SHi 


Regimental  badge,  Battle  Flags  of  the  Tenth  and  drum,  a  relic  of  the  Mexican  War, 
on  which  "Drummer-boy"  Walker  learned  to  play;  also  drum-sticks  given  him  June 
29,  '61,  by  Capt.  Fred  Barton  and  used  by  Walker  through  three  years  of  service. 


THE    TENTH    REGIMENT 

MASSACHUSETTS 
VOLUNTEER     INFANTRY 

1861     1864 


A  WESTERN   MASSACHUSETTS 

REGIMEN^          PROPERTY  OF 

Bryant  Free  library, 

ALFRED'S.  HO£     CUMMINGTON,  MASS. 


A  VETERAN  OF  THE  CIVIL  WAR 


Regimental  Committee  on  History 

JOHN  W.  HERSEY,  Chairman,    JOEL  H.  HENDRICK,  Secretary 
GEO.  W.  ANDERSON,     HOMER  G.  GILMORE, 

JAMES  R.  HOWES, 
MYRON  P.  WALKER,     STEPHEN  C.  WARRINER 


PUBLISHED    BY   THE 

TENTH  REGIMENT  VETERAN  ASSOCIATION 

SPRINGFIELD,  MASS. 

1909 


E    i  Q 

L—  ^  «—  '  '  __  ^ 


\  o  ; 


COPYRIGHTED  1909 

BY  THE 

TENTH    REGIMENT    MASSACHUSETTS 
VOLUNTEER     INFANTRY 

ASSOCIATION. 
SPRINGFIELD,     -     MASS. 


of  The  F.  A.  Bassette  Co.,  Springfield,  Mass. 


PREFACE. 

There  must  be  something  peculiar  in  the  man  who  is  not 
ready  to  maintain  that  his  own  home  is  the  very  best  pos 
sible — in  like  manner  there  must  be  something  lacking  in  the 
Union  veteran  who  does  not  hold  his  regiment  the  bravest 
and  truest  that  ever  wore  the  blue,  who  does  not  narrate  the 
services  of  that  organization  so  regularly,  eloquently  and 
persistently  that  listeners  wonder  that  any  member  came 
home  alive  and  what  other  bodies  could  have  been  doing  while 
the  — st  or  — th  was  putting  down  the  Rebellion. 

While  the  survivors  of  the  Tenth  Massachusetts  Volunteer 
Infantry  do  not  claim  that  their  regiment  was  Primus  inter 
pares  (First  among  equals),  they  do  maintain  that  there  was 
none  any  better  and  that  its  rank  and  file  were  as  truly  repre 
sentative  of  the  real  American  spirit  as  any  that  followed  the 
Flag  for  the  maintenance  of  the  Union. 

Though  the  day  is  far  spent,  and  the  great  majority  of  the 
men  who  constituted  the  membership  of  the  Tenth  are  today 
sleeping  the  sleep  that  knows  no  waking,  yet  the  surviving 
scant  fifth  of  the  aggregate,  deeming  it  desirable  that  the 
recital  of  their  own  and  their  deceased  comrades'  services 
should  have  permanent  lodgment  by  the  side  of  similar  stories 
of  other  regiments,  at  this  late  day,  almost  half  a  century 
after  enlistment,  avail  themselves  of  the  munificent  offer* 
of  the  Commonwealth  and  the  generous  contributions  of 
friends,  and  add  this  volume  to  the  array  of  similar  narratives 
of  loyalty,  endurance  and  sacrifice. 

The  body  of  the  work  tells  the  story  of  the  Regiment  as  a 
whole;  the  Roster  recites  the  brief  summary  of  more  than 
twelve  hundred  men,  every  one  as  dear  as  life  itself  to  some 
home,  more  or  less  distant.  Just  as  far  as  care  and  persever 
ance  could  take  the  inquirer,  so  far  have  those  concerned  in 
the  volume  carried  the  investigations  concerning  those  who, 
so  long  ago,  drank  with  them  from  the  same  canteen  and 
with  them  bivouacked  on  the  old  camp  ground.  To  those 
who  in  any  way  contributed  to  the  fullness  of  this  Roster 
thanks  from  many  directions  are  due  and  they  are  hereby 
rendered. 

The  foundation  of  the  history  is  the  volume  put  forth  by 
Capt.  J.  K.  Newell  in  1875,  the  result  of  several  years  of 
careful  labor,  interminable  letter  writing,  the  turning  of  the 


*The  Commonwealth  purchases  500  copies  of  regimental  histories 
of  specified  size  and  character  to  be  distributed  among  the  public 
Libraries  of  the  state. 


M205569 


4  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

War  files  of  many  newspapers  and  all  the  personal  interviews 
that  he  could  secure.  This  story,  modified,  revised  and 
extended,  forms  the  basis  of  a  new  and  later  recital  of  services 
that  grow  even  brighter  in  the  perspective  of  intervening 
years.  To  Captain  Newell's  story  are  added  extracts  from 
the  diaries  of  Corporals  S.  H.  Hindley,  "H,"  and  Theo.  Sar 
gent,  "K,"  printed  in  H.  M.  Tower's  History  of  Spencer,  also 
data  from  diary  of  J.  W.  Hersey,  "H,"  with  many  incidents 
and  facts,  for  the  first  time  told  in  print  by  survivors  who, 
to  the  plea  for  assistance,  have  sent  in  personal  contributions, 
always  the  spice  of  the  more  solid  dish. 

A  study  of  the  data,  afforded  in  the  Roster,  will  reveal  many 
interesting  items  to  those  curiously  inclined.  They  will  find 
there  a  remarkable  instance  of  homogeneity,  in  that  officers 
and  men  were  almost  entirely  of  American  birth,  and  while 
few  of  them  claimed  educational  advantages  beyond  those 
of  the  public  schools,  yet  still  less  were  obliged  to  sign  their 
enlistment  papers  by  "his  mark."  No  regiment  better 
appreciated  the  opportunities  of  Uncle  Sam's  postal  system 
and  more  regularly  communicated  with  friends  at  home,  while 
reading  matter  by  the  pouchful,  from  the  home  land,  found 
eager  recipients  among  these  church  and  school  reared 
soldiers. 

At  the  front,  only  praises  followed  every  year  of  regimental 
service.  Whether  the  men  were  drilling  and  building  forts, 
marching,  on  picket  duty,  camping,  skirmishing  or  in  the 
battle  line,  where  were  they  found  other  than  faithful?  From 
their  baptism  of  blood  at  Fair  Oaks,  through  two  full  years 
of  battle  din,  to  the  final  scenes  in  front  of  Petersburg,  every 
day's  duty  was  faithfully  discharged.  On  their  battle  flags 
are  inscribed  the  names  of  some  of  the  fiercest  encounters 
of  the  war,  but  their  first  was  their  severest  trial.  Their 
aggregate  losses  entitle  the  Regiment  to  a  place  among  the 
"Three  Hundred  Fighting  Regiments "  enumerated  by  Wm. 
F.  Fox  in  his  famous  work,  where  a  total  loss  of  134  killed 
and  mortally  wounded  is  essential  for  entrance.  The  Regi 
ment's  percentage  of  loss  was  eleven  per  cent  and,  while  at 
Spottsylvania,  out  of  280  engaged,  26  were  lost,  a  percentage 
of  twelve  plus.  This  is  all  the  more  conspicuous  in  that  the 
Regiment  received  only  two  hundred  recruits,  hence  a  rela 
tively  small  number  of  men  from  whom  losses  could  come. 
Their  actual  service  at  the  front  was  only  a  little  more  than 
two  years,  and  their  muster-out,  at  the  end  of  the  three  years, 
did  not  give  the  extra  time  had  by  many  regiments  for  con 
tinuous  battle  losses. 


PREFACE  5 

Readers  of  this  volume  will  search  in  vain  for  the  story  of 
the  war,  that  is  the  field  of  more  extended  works;  this  is  just 
the  history  of  a  single  regiment,  keeping  as  near  the  individual 
as  possible  from  start  to  finish.  Incidentally,  other  similar 
organizations  are  mentioned  and  historical  scenes,  places  and 
persons  are  noted  at  intervals,  but  everywhere  and  at  all 
times  the  impression  is  pronounced  that  the  story  is  specific 
rather  than  general.  The  narrator  has  had  the  efficient  aid 
of  the  committee  appointed  by  their  comrades  to  supervise 
the  compilation  and  publication.  Messrs.  Anderson,  Gilmore 
(until  his  lamented  death),  Hendrick,  Hersey,  Howes,  Walker 
and  Warriner  have  faithfully  cooperated  in  every  possible 
way  to  aid  and  advance  the  work. 

The  reader  will  observe  that  an  unusual  number  of  por 
traits  embellish  the  book.  The  originals  of  these  faces  were 
secured  from  divers  directions  and  distances.  Many  of  them 
were  crumpled  and  dimmed  by  time  and  carelessness,  yet  each 
one  as  precious  as  gold  to  the  possessor.  Varying  in  size  and 
vividness,  the  engraver  has  done  his  best  to  bring  out  the 
qualities  of  resemblance  the  pictures  once  possessed;  the 
four  groups  of  officers'  heads  are  reduced  from  the  wood 
cuts  with  which  Captain  Newell  adorned  his  book  of  almost 
thirty-five  years  ago. 

The  surviving  veterans  of  the  Tenth,  together  with  their 
friends  and  those  of  the  majority  already  in  the  other  world, 
are  indebted  to  a  wide  range  of  people  who  have  helped  in  the 
preparation  of  this  book.  The  helpers  include,  not  only  the 
History  Committee,  but  Major  Knight  and  Lieutenant  Eaton 
who  lis'tened  to  the  reading  of  the  story  in  manuscript  and  the 
former  gave  his  working  hours  for  months  to  the  elaboration 
of  data  in  the  Roster  of  Company  E;  to  Lieutenant  Darby 
for  his  labors  in  looking  up  the  facts  for  Company  B;  the 
Company  Committee  of  Company  H  for  the  thorough  manner 
in  which  the  particulars  of  that  organization  were  presented; 
to  J.  W.  Hersey  for  his  war-time  diary;  and  to  H.  A.  Tower 
of  the  Band  for  the  admirable  work  lie  did  in  looking  up  the 
record  of  his  fellow  musicians.  Finally,  every  one  who  directly 
or  indirectly  helped  on  the  development  of  this  history  of  the 
Regiment  is  entitled  to  the  heartiest  thanks  of  every  survivor 
and  friend. 


ALFRED  S.  ROE. 

Worcester,  March,  1909. 


Col.  H.  L.  Eustis, 

Capt.  E.  E.  Day,  Maj.  O.  Miller,  Lt.  Col.  J.  M.  Decker, 

Lieut.  B.  F.  Leland,     Sergt.  Maj.  E.  K.  Wilcox,     Lt.  A.  E.  Munyan. 
(From  wood  cut  in  Newell's  History.) 


SPRINGFIELD 

Western  Massachusetts!  The  words  arouse  thoughts  of 
the  hills  of  Berkshire  and  the  Connecticut  River  as  it  courses 
through  the  counties  of  Franklin,  Hampshire  and  Hampden. 
The  western  boundary  is  readily  given  and,  properly,  its 
eastern  is  the  line  which  separates  these  three  counties  from 
Worcester.  In  area,  this  section  of  the  Commonwealth  is 
somewhat  more  than  one-third  of  Massachusetts,  its  popula 
tion  in  1860,  a  trifle  under  one-seventh  of  the  total;  and  its 
valuation,  one-eleventh.  In  furnishing  soldiers,  population 
not  area  counts,  and  comparison  with  the  aggregates  collated 
by  Adjutant  General  Wm.  Schouler  shows  that  the  western 
part  of  the  Commonwealth,  in  its  outpouring  of  loyal,  patriotic 
men,  was  fully  up  to  the  record  of  the  eastern  and  central 
portions  and,  in  expenditures  for  the  raising  of  troops  and 
caring  for  dependent  families,  there  was  not  the  slightest 
falling  off.  Naturally  the  militia  companies  nearest  Boston 
were  earliest  able  to  respond  to  the  first  call  for  troops,  and 
only  the  Allen  Guards  of  Pittsfield  were  found  in  the  April 
answer  to  the  President's  demand,  but  regrets  over  the  en 
forced  delay  were  many  and  loud. 

The  Tenth  Regiment  of  the  State  Militia  was  entirely  a 
Western  Massachusetts  organization.  Under  the  command  of 
Col.  J.  M.  Decker,  had  the  companies  been  nearer  the  general 
rendezvous,  it  might  have  figured  with  the  Sixth,  Fourth  and 
the  other  bodies  so  fortunate  as  to  be  in  at  the  very  beginning. 
As  it  was,  by  reference  to  the  several  prefatory  sketches  of 
the  companies,  it  will  be  seen  that  many  of  the  subsequent 
soldiers  were  putting  down  their  names  in  April  and,  as  it 
were,  dancing  attendance  on  the  recruiting  station  till  their 
muster-in,  the  following  June.  When  the  vision  of  Secretary 


8  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Seward  and  other  members  of  Lincoln's  Cabinet,  of  a  rebellion, 
suppressed  in  sixty  days,  had  vanished,  and  in  the  middle 
of  May  there  came  from  Washington  permission  for  Massa 
chusetts  to  organize  six  regiments  as  her  first  installment 
towards  filling  the  call  for  half  a  million  men,  there  was  many 
an  exultant  heart-beat  along  the  Connecticut  and  under  the 
shadow  of  Greylock,  because  at  least  one  of  the  regiments 
must  come  from  that  vicinity. 

Governor  John  A.  Andrew  has  received  merited  praise 
during  almost  half  a  century  for  the  early  proffers,  made  by 
him  of  the  services  of  Massachusetts  Militia  in  the  opening 
weeks  of  1861,  but  some  recognition  should  be  had  of  the 
wisdom  and  foresight  of  his  predecessor,  Nathaniel  P.  Banks, 
Jr.,  who  had  placed  the  citizen  soldiery  of  the  Commonwealth 
in  a  condition  of  efficiency  never  attained  before.  It  was  the 
very  climax  of  good  fortune  which  placed  at  the  disposal  of 
Governor  Andrew  a  superbly  equipped  body  of  men,  ready  to 
respond  at  the  earliest  summons  and  even  to  march  on  their 
mission  southward  through  loyal  states,  where  men  were  not 
yet  awake  to  the  need  of  the  Government.  While  it  is  true 
that  certain  Pennsylvanians,  without  arms  or  uniform,  had 
reached  Washington  a  few  hours  before  the  arrival  of  the 
Massachusetts  Sixth,  the  latter  was  the  first  armed  body  to 
interpose  itself  between  the  Capitol  and  its  enemies.  Governor 
Andrew  had  truthfully  said  that  the  soldiers  of  the  Bay  State 
went  out  equipped  in  all  the  essentials  of  warfare,  "down  to 
tent  pegs  and  shoe  strings." 

One  of  the  enthusiastic  divisions  of  the  Militia,  the  Tenth, 
had  been  drilling  for  months  with  the  expectation  that  the 
coming  conflict  might  need  its  services,  but  when  the  demand 
was  made  it  was  not  for  a  brief  errand  into  the  southland,  but 
for  an  enlistment  of  three  full  years.  There  were  many  who 
would  gladly  have  given  the  three  months,  at  first  called  for, 
but  who  could  not  see  their  way  clear  to  pledge  the  longer 
period.  Still  so  great  was  the  pressure  for  places  in  the  ranks 
in  these  early  days,  there  was  no  question  of  filling  the  com 
panies,  rather  it  was  one  of  who  should  be  taken  and  who 


MAY  lo,  '61  SPRINGFIELD  1) 

rejected.  One  of  Governor  Andrew's  earliest  orders  was  the 
noted  No.  4  in  which  every  commanding  officer  of  a  company 
was  enjoined  to  go  carefully  over  the  lists  of  names  and  see 
to  it  that  only  those  of  effective  and  ready  men  be  retained. 
The  alacrity  and  spirit  with  which  this  order  was  obeyed 
augured  well  for  the  day  when  the  test  should  come. 

However  devoted  men  may  be  to  their  nation  or  state, 
there  is  a  clannish  instinct  in  the  great  majority  which  prompts 
them  to  a  love  for  their  neighbors,  so  companies  recruited 
in  contiguous  localities  have  a  closer  hold  on  each  other  than 
those  coming  from  widely  separated  sections.  Thus  Western 
Massachusetts  has  a  special  fondness  for  the  regiments  which, 
in  whole  or  part,  were  raised  in  that  division  of  the  Common 
wealth.  These  were  the  10th,  27th,  31st,  37th,  46th,  49th, 
52d  and  a  considerable  part  of  the  21st,  34th  and  57th  Regi 
ments.  Of  course  men  from  this  section  found  their  way  into 
the  various  artillery  and  cavalry  organizations  of  Massachu 
setts,  nor  was  the  Navy  wanting  in  stalwart  men  whose  strength 
and  vigor  had  been  developed  in  the  various  industries  of  the 
interior.  An  idea  of  the  services  rendered  may  be  had  from 
the  fact  that,  of  the  foregoing  Regiments,  the  31st  is  the  only 
three  years'  organization,  not  included  in  Fox's  book  of 
"Three  Hundred  Fighting  Regiments."  While  the  record 
of  all  was  excellent,  the  31st  doing  splendidly  in  its  Louisiana 
campaigns,  special  interest  pertains  to  that  of  the  Tenth,  since 
it  was  the  pioneer,  the  one  to  blaze  the  way  for  others  to  follow. 

As  the  permission  for  Massachusetts  to  raise  six  additional 
regiments  bore  date,  May  15,  1861,  it  is  fair  to  assume  this 
as  the  very  first  date  in  the  annals  of  the  Tenth,  though  men 
had  been  waiting,  more  or  less  patiently,  for  such  announce 
ment  during  weary  weeks  and  the  muster-in,  the  real  regi 
mental  birthday,  was  yet  more  than  a  month  away.  With 
Springfield  selected  as  the  rendezvous  of  the  new  organiza 
tion,  having  exceptional  conveniences  for  such  purpose,  it 
would  be  natural  to  find  Springfield  Companies  earliest  on  the 
ground.  The  Company,  as  yet  unnamed,  but  to  become 
Company  E  in  the  Regiment,  recruited  by  Capt.  Frederic 


10  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Barton,  was  the  first  company  in  Hampden  county,  raised 
expressly  for  the  war.  Company  F,  as  the  Springfield  City 
Guard  was  already  in  existence  and  on  the  ground,  as  was 
another  company,  raised  by  Oliver  Edwards,  later  Adjutant 
of  the  Tenth.  May  31st  they  were  joined  by  Company  A  from 
Great  Barrington,  the  other  companies  except  Company  D 
appearing  June  14th,  the  Pittsfield  Company  (D)  being  a  day 
late  through  a  delay  in  the  receipt  of  orders.  Companies  A 
(Great  Barrington,)  and  K  (Westfield),  marched  the  entire 
distance,  the  latter  body  escorted  all  the  way  by  the  Rough 
and  Ready  Fire  Engine  Company,  and  a  cavalcade  of  one  hun 
dred  and  fifty  horsemen.  Company  I,  respresenting  West 
Springfield  and  Holyoke,  also  responded  on  foot.  Still  another 
company  from  Colrain,  Company  E  of  the  old  Militia  Tenth, 
reported  in  the  evening,  its  membership  and  that  of  Edwards's 
Company  being  distributed  among  the  other  companies. 

On  the  evening  of  Sunday,  June  9th,  had  occurred  one  of 
those  stirring  events,  then  entirely  new,  but  to  which  the 
loyal  North  was  to  become  accustomed  during  the  ensuing 
years.  The  three  Springfield  Companies,  along  with  that 
from  Great  Barrington  attended  service  at  the  First  church, 
listening  to  an  earnest,  patriotic  sermon  by  the  Rev.  H.  M. 
Parsons  and  the  strains  of  "Hail  Columbia,"  "The  Star 
Spangled  Banner"  and  other  national  airs,  as  they  pealed 
forth  from  the  organ,  while  the  flag  itself  bedecked  the  pulpit, 
and  bunting  in  red,  white  and  blue  festooned  the  galleries. 
Soldiers  and  citizens  completely  filled  the  edifice  and  all 
carried  away  a  deeper  devotion  to  the  cause  rapidly  becoming 
the  paramount  one  in  the  land.  The  question  of  who  should 
command  the  Tenth  Regiment  was  solved  Monday,  June  10th 
by  Governor  Andrew,  in  that  he  then  signed  the  commission, 
as  Colonel,  of  Henry  Shaw  Briggs,  till  that  day  Captain  of 
Co.  K,  (Allen  Guard),  8th  M.  V.  M.,  thus  ending  a  subject 
which  had  given  the  papers  many  columns  of  matter  and 
interested  officers  and  men  hours  of  discussion. 

By  Tuesday,  the  llth.  the  local  companies  with  that  from 
Great  Barrington,  had  so  far  perfected  themselves  in  drill  that 


JUNE  15,  '61  SPRINGFIELD  11 

they  were  not  afraid  to  appear  in  public  and  so,  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Lombard  of  the  City  Guard,  they  had  a 
battalion  drill  and  parade.  They  marched  through  the  princi 
pal  streets,  drilled  in  Court  Square  to  the  evident  pleasure  of 
the  assembled  multitude,  ever  alive  to  the  merits  of  all  military 
manoeuvres,  and  then  accepted  an  invitation  by  the  Guard 
to  accompany  the  latter  to  its  armory  in  the  old  Town  Hall 
where  refreshments  were  awaiting  them.  After  the  collation, 
a  generous  one,  speeches  by  the  several  Company  officers 
followed  and  social  amenities  as  well  as  military  tactics  were 
pleasantly  cultivated. 

Saturday,  the  15th,  saw  the  Regiment  in  battalion  drill 
under  Lieut.  Col.  Decker,  Colonel  Briggs  being  temporarily 
absent,  and  beneath  a  hot  June  sun,  the  young  warriors 
marched,  countermarched  and  manoeuvred  to  the  wonder 
and  satisfaction  of  a  great  array  of  men,  women  and  children 
who  crowded  each  other  in  their  efforts  to  behold  real  soldiers 
preparing  for  actual  war.  Hard  by,  in  contrast  with  these 
warlike  preparations,  workmen  of  the  Agricultural  Society 
were  engaged  in  hay-making  on  that  portion  of  Hampden 
Park  not  occupied  by  the  soldiery.  Captain  E.  G.  Marshall 
of  the  Regular  Army  had  been  sent  by  the  Governor  to  muster 
the  Regiment  into  the  United  States  service,  but  he  found  the 
same  hardly  ready  for  his  services,  in  that  only  a  few  of  the 
companies  had  reached  the  requisite  number  of  101  men,  the 
state  allowing  only  seventy-nine,  and  most  of  the  Companies 
having  reported  with  only  that  number. 

The  following  day  being  Sunday,  the  men  showed  the  char 
acter  of  their  rearing,  in  that  the  several  companies  were 
found  at  divine  service,  four  of  them,  viz,  the  City  Guard, 
Captain  Barton's,  those  from  Great  Barrington  and  Northamp 
ton,  electing  the  North  church  and  there  hearing  a  rousing 
address  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Drummond,  who  picturesquely 
advised  them  as  to  their  future  duties;  the  Greenfield  .men 
went  to  Pynchon  street  church;  those  from  Holyoke  and 
Shelburne  to  the  South  church;  while  the  Westfield  and 
North  Adams  companies  attended  the  Baptist  church.  Not- 


12  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

withstanding  the  preparations  for  war,  June  17th  was  Bunker 
Hill  Day  just  the  same,  hence  the  entire  Regiment  marched 
into  the  city  and  assisted  in  the  celebration,  one  of  whose 
features  was  the  dedication  of  a  beautiful  flag,  on  which 
occasion  speeches  were  made  by  Mayor  Stephen  C.  Bemis 
and  others. 

The  19th  of  June  was  a  significant  date  in  the  records  of  the 
Tenth,  as  on  that  day  the  happy  word  went  round  that  the 
maximum  number  had  been  reached  by  every  Company,  and 
with  101  men  each,  they  were  ready  for  the  mustering  officer. 
Also  another  unforgotten  incident  of  the  day  was  the  thought 
ful  presentation  to  the  men,  by  the  good  ladies  of  Springfield, 
of  generous  rations  of  doughnuts  and  cheese.  Never  was  there 
a  better  illustration  of  reaching  the  hearts  of  men  through 
their  stomachs,  for  the  food  disappeared  with  evident  relish 
and  hearty  cheers  for  the  liberal  donors  proclaimed  apprecia 
tion  and  regard.  The  culinary  department  for  the  Regiment 
was  managed  by  Messrs.  Thomas  H.  Allen  and  Friend  Bristol 
who  performed  their  offices  as  well  as  could  be  expected, 
remembering  that  soldiers'  rations  were  not  supposed  to  be 
of  a  first-class  hotel  order.  The  menu  consisted  generally, 
for  breakfast,  of  hash  or  fish  balls,  bread  and  coffee;  dinner, 
meat  or  fish,  potatoes,  bread  and  water;  supper,  bread  and 
butter,  sliced  ham  or  boiled  beef  and  coffee.  There  was  an 
occasional  variation  as  on  Mondays,  when  beans  instead  of 
meat  were  served  for  dinner  and  supper.  Each  squad  sent 
one  of  their  number  to  the  kitchen  to  bring  thence  coffee  in 
a  pail  and  the  solids  in  a  tin  pan.  Coffee  for  the  regiment  was 
made  in  two  large  kettles  each  holding  ninety  gallons,  while 
in  the  meat  line,  thirty  hams,  500  Ibs.  of  beef  or  four  barrels 
of  corned  beef,  with  eight  bushels  of  potatoes  and  400  Ibs.  of 
bread  were  consumed  at  one  meal.  While  enlisted  men  com 
plained  at  times  of  the  muddiness  of  the  coffee  and  other 
indications  of  poor  cooking  yet,  considering  quantity  and 
facilities,  they  were  pretty  good  and  before  a  year  had  passed 
some  of  the  loudest  of  the  complainants  were  wishing  them 
selves  back  in  Hampden  Park  at  meal  time.  The  officers  had 


JUXE  20,  '61  SPRINGFIELD  13 

their  table  service  in  a  large  tent  with  Mr.  Charles  L.  Jefts 
as  caterer. 

These  were  days  of  somewhat  dull  camp  routine.  To  young 
men  entirely  unused  to  restraint,  they  were  irksome,  yet  just 
such  experience  was  necessary  to  transform  them  into  ser 
viceable  soldiers.  From  six  to  eight  hours  a  day  were  spent 
in  drill,  the  remaining  time  being  devoted  to  the  various 
incidents  of  camp  life,  such  as  roll-call,  partaking  of  meals, 
fatigue  duty,  etc.  No  soldiers  were  permitted  to  leave  camp 
without  a  pass  from  headquarters  and  of  these  only  five  per 
company  could  be  issued  in  a  single  day.  The  regular  daily 
routine  appears  in  the  following  scheme:  5.00  a.  m.,  reveille 
and  roll-call;  6.30,  breakfast;  7.30,  guard-mount;  8.30, 
regimental  drill;  12.30  p.  m.,  dinner;  3.00,  company  drill; 
5.30,  supper;  6.30,  battalion  line  and  dress  parade;  10.00, 
tattoo;  10.30,  taps,  at  which  time  lights  were  extinguished 
and  quiet  reigned.  The  camp  had  the  advantage  of  the  first 
two  regimental  officers,  both  doing  their  best  to  bring  their 
diverse  elements  into  military  form.  Were  all  the  deeds  and 
words  of  these  days  preserved,  they  would  of  themselves  fill 
volumes,  but  only  a  few  survive  the  lapse  of  years.  Cotton, 
of  Company  B,  was  a  very  dry  joker  and  when  he  heard  a 
citizen  commiserating  the  men  over  their  prospective  hard 
times  in  the  South,  Cotton  turned  to  the  sympathizer,  saying, 
"Mister,  didn't  you  know  that  we  have  enlisted  and  expect 
to  get  killed  before  those  hard  times  get  around?  Guess  you 
are  the  fellow  that  will  suffer  next  winter  instead  of  us.  Lord, 
how  I  pity  you!" 

June  20th,  the  restrictive  feature  of  granting  passes  bore 
fruit  in  the  plot  of  a  hundred  or  more  volunteers  to  "run  the 
guard,"  a  feat  often  attempted  and  frequently  accomplished 
in  every  regimental  experience.  This  first  attempt  at  insubordi 
nation  was  early  discovered  and  frustrated  by  calling  out 
the  three  left  companies  who  stopped  the  malcontents  before 
the  guard  line  was  reached.  While  all  sorts  of  reasons  were 
given  for  this  course,  among  them  the  statement  that  the  food 
was  unsatisfactory,  the  probable  real  cause  was  the  unwilling- 


14  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

ness  of  Young  America  to  submit  to  meets  and  bounds  with 
out  some  sort  of  protest.  As  time  wore  on,  they  grew  accus 
tomed  to  the  situation  and  if  a  time  off  seemed  desirable,  it 
was  sought  in  a  less  concerted  manner.  This  day  also  was 
important  in  that  between  forty  and  fifty  recruits  came  in 
from  the  town  of  Spencer.  A  number  of  good  men  had 
volunteered  there  expecting  to  go  in  the  Fifteenth,  but  the 
proffer  of  the  Company  was  received  too  late,  so  an  agreement 
was  made  to  go  to  Springfield  and  enter  some  company  there. 
Accordingly,  accompanied  by  the  Fire  Engine  Company  and 
a  host  of  citizens,  both  sexes  and  all  ages,  the  men  had  marched 
two  and  a  half  miles  to  the  railroad  station  and  taken  a  train 
for  the  camp.  The  recruits  were  just  the  ones  needed.  Under 
competent  direction  they  had  been  drilling,  some  of  them  a 
month,  and  in  the  ranks  were  J.  W.  Bigelow,  Lawson  Powers 
and  Horace  Prouty  who  had  been  elected  Second,  Third  and 
Fourth  Lieutenants  respectively  of  the  Company  when  first 
organized.  The  greater  number  were  assigned  to  Companies 
H  and  K. 

Muster-in  is  a  formality  whereby  the  would-be  soldier  takes 
a  solemn  oath  or  affirmation  that  he  will  bear  true  allegiance 
to  the  Government  and  will  obey  all  orders  of  his  superior 
officers.  This  important  event  in  the  story  of  the  Tenth  took 
place  Friday,  June  21st,  on  the  Agricultural  grounds  in  Hamp- 
den  Park,  the  executive  officer  being  Captain  Marshall  of  the 
U.S.  Army,  the  same  officer  who  had  appeared  for  the  purpose 
one  week  before,  the  deficiencies  of  that  date  having  been 
made  up  by  accession  from  Spencer  and  the  disbandment  of 
certain  companies.  Before  administering  the  oath,  the  rules 
and  regulations  which  the  soldiers  were  expected  to  obey 
were  read  and  with  few  exceptions,  these  among  the  most 
recent  volunteers,  all  consented  to  respect  them.  During  the 
ceremony,  the  different  companies  were  arranged  in  column  by 
company  and  with  uplifted  right  hand  and  uncovered  head, 
the  men  swore  allegiance  and  obedience  to  the  United  States 
and  to  defend  her  against  all  foes  whatsoever. 


JUNE  21,  '61  MUSTER-IN  15 

The  solemnity  developed  some  trouble  as  in  Company  K 
from  Westfield,  where  about  twenty  men  refused  to  be  sworn 
in  because  of  a  change  that  had  been  made  in  the  position  of 
First  Lieutenant.  The  Company,  by  a  two-thirds  vote  had 
selected  Pliny  Wood  over  Andrew  Campbell,  who  had  re 
ceived  the  appointment  from  the  Governor.  Popular  opinion 
sustained  the  dissatisfied  soldiers  and  in  a  public  meeting,  the 
citizens  of  Westfield  endorsed  their  action.  Finally  a  com 
promise  was  reached  through  the  withdrawal  of  both  would-be 
officers  and  the  substitution  of  David  M.  Chase  who  was  mus 
tered  as  First  Lieutenant.*  Five  men  from  Great  Barrington, 
in  Company  A,  declined  to  go  further,  two  from  sheer  coward 
ice,  the  others  because  their  respective  towns  had  failed  to 
make  provision  for  their  families.  A  dozen  or  more  of  the 
North  Adams  Company  B,  making  poor  rations  a  pretext, 
also  refused  to  serve  but,  when  stripped  of  their  uniforms,  all 
but  five  reconsidered  and  were  sworn  in.  Those  persisting 
in  their  contrariness  were  drummed  off  the  grounds,  the 
leader  having  had  his  hair  and  whiskers  on  one  side  shaved  off. 
Those  companies,  where  no  discontent  had  been  manifested, 
were  loudly  cheered  by  their  comrades  and  by  the  many 
spectators.  In  Company  I  also  a  change  was  made,  fully 
stated  in  the  roster  of  Company  I;  vide  James  P.  Brooks. 
One  of  the  Spencer  boys  writes  of  this  day,  "Yesterday  I  was 
at  work  in  the  potato  field ;  today  I  am  a  soldier,  having  just 
been  mustered  in  and  am  on  guard." 

To  the  young  men,  reared  on  "mother's  cooking,"  the  food 
furnished  by  the  contractors  seemed  not  altogether  savory 
and  some  of  them,  with  the  liberty  born  of  America's  free  air, 
rushed  into  print  and,  through  the  columns  of  the  Republican, 
sought  the  popular  ear  with  their  complaints.  To  such, 
Colonel  Briggs  replied  in  the  Republican  of  June  21st,  defend 
ing  the  contractors  and  giving  his  own  opinion  along  with  that 


*It  is  of  interest  to  know  that  both  candidates  later  entered  the 
service,  Wood  as  Second  Lieutenant,  27th  Mass.,  killed  as  First  Lieu 
tenant,  Arrowfield  Church,  Va.,  May  31,  '64;  Campbell,  Captain,  46th 
Mass.,  twice  a  member  of  the  Legislature,  he  died  May  24,  1899. 


16  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

of  the  surgeon  that  the  soup  was  palatable,  wholesome  and 
abundant.  In  a  word  that  the  rations  were  all  that  could  be 
expected  from  the  amount  allowed  by  the  Government,  viz, 
thirty  cents  per  man  for  each  day,  or  ten  cents  per  meal. 
Growling  about  rations,  however;  was  no  new  thing;  followers 
of  Alexander  and  Caesar  complained  over  the  smallness  and 
quality  of  the  food  dealt  out  to  them.  Only  when  the  soldier 
could  help  himself  to  what  he  could  reach,  did  he  really  live  as 
he  thought  he  ought  to  live. 

Though  the  camp  was  daily  sought  by  visitors  from  near 
and  far,  a  trip  home  once  more  was  generally  desired  and  the 
next  day,  Saturday  the  22d,  a  general  holiday  was  proclaimed 
and  fully  one-half  of  the  men  went  to  their  respective  homes 
to  spend  one  more  Sunday  with  the  loved  ones,  while  those 
who  remained  in  camp  were  not  forgetful  of  the  religious 
advantages  in  Springfield.  During  the  following  week,  equip 
ments  for  the  men  began  to  arrive;  overcoats  in  gray,  with 
hats  of  a  light  drab,  anything  but  handsome  and  which  were 
discarded  as  soon  as  caps  could  be  obtained.  The  India  rubber 
knapsacks  were  condemned  on  the  Regiment's  reaching 
Washington  and  it  was  possible  to  receive  a  better  article. 
The  generosity  of  Springfield  ladies  was  apparent  on  the  25th 
when  they  served  strawberry  shortcake  for  the  entire  Regiment. 
There  was  no  stint  in  quantity  nor  complaint  as  to  quality. 
What  an  imposing  array  shortcake  for  a  thousand  men  must 
have  been!  Meanwhile,  the  matter  of  drill  was  not  forgotten, 
at  least  so  far  as  the  absence  of  guns  would  permit,  but  facings 
and  marching  with  the  set-up  drill  were  constantly  in  order. 

July  2d  marked  a  step  forward,  since  then  the  Regiment 
inarched  to  the  U.S.  Armory  and  each  man  was  supplied  with 
a  new  gun  from  the  Arsenal.  It  took  only  seven  hundred  and 
forty  to  go  around,  since  more  than  two  hundred  of  the  men 
had  not  returned  from  their  leave  of  absence,  or  were  on  duty 
in  the  camp.  The  weapon  itself  was  of  the  common  make, 
model  of  1842,  and  was  soon  replaced  with  the  Enfield  rifle. 
This  musket  was  thus  given  out  for  purposes  of  drill  and 
parade  and,  with  them  in  hand,  the  men  felt  a  hundred  fold 


JULY  4,  '61  SPRINGFIELD  17 

more  like  real  soldiers  as  they  marched  back  to  their  quarters. 
Though  the  entire  nation  was  entering  on  a  period  of  de 
structive  use  of  gunpowder,  these  "boys"  in  camp  could 
hardly  be  expected  to  pass  over  July  4th  without  some  recog 
nition  of  its  memories  and  significance.  The  entire  Regiment 
entered  heartily  into  the  celebration,  joining  thus  the  fire  and 
local  military  companies  not  already  in  the  ranks,  and  paraded 
through  the  principal  streets.  On  Main  street,  between 
Pynchon  and  Elm,  a  floral  procession  of  above  eight  hundred 
children  from  the  public  schools,  directed  by  Col.  Horace  C. 
Lee,  passed  through  the  Regiment  and  presented  each  soldier 
with  a  pretty  bouquet  which  the  thankful  recipient  at  once 
placed  upon  the  tip  of  his  bayonet  and  thus  bore  it  through 
the  parade.  Nor  was  eating  forgotten,  since  a  free  dinner 
was  served  in  a  large  tent  on  the  park  where  the  soldiers  and 
hundreds  of  others  victualed  freely.  Of  course  such  an  occa 
sion  could  not  pass  without  food  for  the  mind  as  well  as  for 
the  body.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Parsons  opened  the  occasion  with 
a  fervent  and  patriotic  prayer.  Mr.  Wm.  L.  Smith  served  as 
toastmaster.  His  introductions  were  pointed  and  witty, 
drawing  out  in  response  the  best  there  was  in  the  speakers, 
among  whom  were  Mayor  Bemis,  Colonel  Briggs,  Lieut.  Col. 
Decker,  Col.  James  D.  Colt  of  Pittsfield,  Judges  Chapman,  Wells 
and  Morris,  Ex-Mayor  Calhoun,  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Drummond 
of  Springfield,  Erastus  Hopkins  of  Northampton,  Capt.  Ralph 
O.  Ives  of  the  Tenth,  and  George  T.  Davis  of  Greenfield. 
Singing  under  the  lead  of  Sheriff  Bush  and  Charles  O.  Chapin 
was  distributed  through  the  postprandial  exercises.  The 
day  itself  was  excessively  hot  and  many  of  the  soldiers  were 
overcome,  dropping  upon  the  grass  as  the  marching  ceased. 
Even  the  officers  could  not  endure  the  ordeal,  Captain  Lom 
bard  of  Company  F  having  to  leave  his  command;  Lieut. 
Porter  of  Company  E  was  completely  overcome,  remaining 
insensible  for  some  time;  Adjutant  Edwards  was  so  pros 
trated  that  he  was  ill  for  hours ;  while  fully  fifty  men  suffered 
in  similar  manner.  It  was  estimated  that  three  thousand 
people  thronged  the  park,  increasing  to  thrice  this  number  for 


18  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

the  dress  parade  at  5.00  p.  m.,  which  ended  the  observances 
for  the  day. 

July  5th  witnessed  an  exchange  of  the  ancient  weapons, 
given  out  for  drill  purposes,  for  Enfield  rifles.*  Though  the 
latter  was  by  no  means  an  ideal  weapon  and  not  up  to  later 
patterns  of  the  Springfield  musket,  it  was  a  great  advance  on 
those  turned  in.  The  different  parts  of  the  gun  would  not 
interchange  like  those  of  the  American,  thus  necessitating  the 
office  of  armorer  in  whose  presence  guns  must  be  taken  down 
and  readjusted.  America  had  not  been  making  rifles  to  any 
great  extent  and  many  a  soldier  can  remember  the  old  Harper's 
Ferry  musket  whose  flint-lock  had  given  place  to  a  percussion 
outfit.  While  doing  the  best  possible  to  equip  the  newly 
raised  army  with  proper  weapons,  the  Government  could  not 
provide  wholly  home-made  articles  and  so  had  to  purchase 
abroad,  but  the  Confederates  were  there  earlier,  hence  what 
came  into  our  hands  were  the  "left-overs,"  if  not  the  culls 
or  rejected,  at  best  the  second  choice. 

Measles  made  their  appearance  in  the  hospital  and  all  the 
comfort  the  victims  found  was  in  the  reflection  that  hot 
weather  was  a  better  time  for  the  ailment  than  winter.  The 
old  complaints  about  food  would  not  altogether  die,  as  was 
evident  when  a  party  of  roguish  fellows  get  hold  of  some 
spoiled  meat  and,  after  a  mock  funeral  procession,  buried  it 
with  great  solemnity,  setting  up  a  head -board  covered  with 
epitaphic  doggerel.  The  7th  of  July,  being  the  Lord's  Day, 
services  were  held  on  the  grounds,  a  very  pertinent  and  elo 
quent  sermon  being  given  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Ide  of  the  First 
Baptist  church,  a  platform  having  been  erected  for  the  preacher 
opposite  the  seats  in  the  park,  said  seats  affording  an  excellent 
listening  place  for  the  men.  On  the  9th,  the  regimental  band 
arrived  from  North  Adams  under  the  leadership  of  Wm.  D. 
Hodge,  its  delayed  coming  being  incident  to  the  necessity  of 
filling  certain  engagements  nearer  home. 


*An  English  weapon,  so  called  from  the  place  of  manufactuer,  the 
principal  arsenal  in  the  United  Kingdom,  largely  developed  by  the 
demands  of  the  Crimean  War. 


JULY  10,  '61  SPRINGFIELD  19 

A  visit  from  the  Governor  was  not  an  everyday  affair, 
hence  the  coming  of  Governor  Andrew  on  the  10th  was  rated 
as  a  notable  event  in  regimental  life.  Reaching  the  city  about 
noon,  he  dined  at  the  Massasoit  House  and  then  visited  the 
Arsenal  where  he  was  received  with  a  national  salute  •  and 
shown  all  possible  honor.  Accompanied  by  Mayor  Bemis 
and  Ex-Lieut.  Gov.  Eliphalet  Trask,  he  reached  the  camp  at 
about  4.30  p.  m.,  where  he  reviewed  the  Regiment.  The 
latter  was  drawn  up  in  line  at  the  north  end  of  the  park  in 
full  view  of  the  people  who  filled  the  stands  of  seats  and  the 
race  track.  Passing  up  and  down  the  front  and  rear  of  the 
lines,  the  Governor  and  staff  had  a  full  view  of  the  entire 
Regiment  and  later  witnessed  the  drill  and  manoeuvres  of  the 
soldiers,  in  all  occupying  thus  an  hour  and  a  half.  Once  more 
came  the  welcome  announcement  that  a  visit  home  was 
possible  and  from  the  morning  of  the  llth  until  noon  of 
Saturday,  the  13th,  there  was  a  respite  from  camp  duties  for 
such  as  cared  for  just  one  more  glance  at  that  dearest  of 
places. 

Departure  from  Springfield  was  impending  and  on  the  15th 
all  were  aware  that  the  morrow  would  end  their  stay  in  camp 
No.  1.  There  were  many  things  to  be  done  before  going,  but 
a  part  of  the  afternoon  was  devoted  to  the  presentation  of  a 
stand  of  colors  to  the  Regiment  by  the  ladies  of  Springfield. 
Once  more  all  the  available  space  of  the  park  was  filled  as 
never  before.  The  men  were  in  line  opposite  the  assemblage 
when  the  bearers  of  the  colors  approached  the  platform. 
Mrs.  James  Barnes  represented  the  ladies  and  Col.  James  M. 
Thompson,  who  had  been  active  in  aiding  the  ladies  in  all  their 
efforts  to  enhance  the  comfort  of  the  soldiers,  presided.  Mrs. 
Barnes  in  presenting  the  colors  to  Colonel  Briggs  said: 

COLONEL  BRIGGS:  I  have  been  requested  by  the  ladies 
of  Springfield  to  present  through  you,  to  the  Tenth  Regiment 
of  Massachusetts  Volunteers,  these  colors,  National  and 
Regimental.  I  am  also  charged  with  the  delivery  of  a  letter 
which  accompanies  them,  in  which  the  ladies  have  expressed 
the  sentiments  which  they  deemed  appropriate  to  the  occasion. 


20  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

As  she  paused  briefly  the  letter  was  read  by  Colonel  Thomp 
son  as  follows: 

To.  Col.  Henry  S.  Br-iggs,  and  the  Tenth  Regiment  of  Massa 
chusetts  Volunteers  under  his  Command: 

The  ladies  of  Springfield,  feeling  a  deep  interest  in  their 
country's  cause,  desire  to  testify  the  same  to  you,  by  present 
ing  you  with  these  colors,  the  emblems  of  her  glory  as  a  republic, 
and  of  that  State  which  has  given  you  to  be  the  defenders  and 
upholders  of  her  most  sacred  rights.  Let  these  banners, 
differing  in  design,  yet  one  in  sentiment,  be  your  reverence 
as  they  are  ours ;  and  wherever  the  fortunes  of  war  may  lead 
you,  we  hope,  as  we  believe,  that  their  lustre  may  never  be 
dimmed  by  any  neglect  on  your  part.  May  the  sight  of  them 
ever  fill  your  hearts  with  new  zeal  and  strengthen  in  you  the 
determination  to  defend  them  to  the  death. 

To  you,  sir,  who  have  the  honor  to  command,  and  to  our 
brave  brothers  who  compose  the  Tenth  Regiment  of  Massa 
chusetts  Volunteers,  we  commit  this  precious  charge.  We 
accompany  it  with  our  prayers  for  your  safe  and  honorable 
return  to  your  families  and  friends.  And  may  a  gracious 
God,  who  is  powerful  to  protect  you  amid  the  dangers  of  the 
battle,  as  amid  the  peaceful  retirement  of  your  homes,  have 
you  constantly  in  His  holy  keeping. 

Ellen  Phelps,  Elizabeth  D.  Rice,  E.  S.  Merriam,  Bell  C. 
Saxton,  Mary  A.  Sargent,  Sarah  M.  Bliss,  Committee. 

Mrs.  Barnes  then  resumed: 

I  trust,  sir,  that  these  sentiments  will  find  a  ready  response 
in  your  own  heart  and  in  the  heart  of  every  man  under  your 
command.  As  you  are  now  about  to  enter  upon  the  solemn 
duties  for  which  you  and  your  Regiment  have  been  enrolled, 
you  will  always  remember  that  the  heart  of  many  a  wife  and 
mother  and  child  and  sister,  will  beat  anxiously  for  your  safety, 
but,  remember,  no  less  anxiously  for  your  honor.  Not  only 
personal  friends,  but  the  whole  people  of  the  State  of  Massa 
chusetts  will  share  these  feelings.  I  take  great  pride,  sir,  in 
having  been  selected  by  the  ladies  to  present  to  you  these 
beautiful  emblems  of  our  Nation  and  State,  and  I  am  happy 
to  believe  they  could  not  be  placed  in  more  honorable  hands. 

In  his  speech  of  acceptance,  Colonel  Briggs,  as  ever,  was 
equal  to  the  occasion  and  in  a  few  eloquent  words  he  accepted 
the  gift  and  promised  for  himself  and  men  their  undying 
devotion  to  the  colors  and  what  they  represented.  The  State 


JULY  16,  '61  BREAK  CAMP  21 

flag  was  prepared  by  Thomas  G.  Savory,  Boston,  of  rich  blue 
silk,  regulation  size,  six  feet  by  six  feet  six  inches,  emblazoned 
with  the  Massachusetts  coat  of  arms,  supported  by  the  olive 
and  palm,  symbolic  of  peace  and  victory.  A  scroll  above 
bore  the  State  motto  and  beneath  in  gilt  were  the  words, 
"Tenth  Regiment  Massachusetts  Volunteers."  Trimmed 
with  yellow  silk  fringe  and  mounted  with  gold  cord  and 
tassels,  the  flag  represented  an  outlay  of  $275.00.  The 
accompanying  Union  banner  was  a  worthy  companion,  of 
regulation  size,  presenting  in  silk  the  red,  white  and  blue. 

It  was  a  day  of  generous  giving,  for  immediately  thereafter 
came  the  presentation  by  Springfield  citizens  of  a  beautiful 
chestnut  horse,  selected  by  "Tim"  Henry,  an  experienced 
horseman,  to  Adjutant  Oliver  Edwards.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Tiffany  expressed  the  sentiments  of  the  donors  in  fitting  words 
and  the  response  of  the  young  lieutenant  was  eloquently 
given,  at  least  as  far  as  his  feelings  would  permit,  for  he  must 
have  realized,  in  this  expression  of  his  fellow  citizens'  love 
and  esteem,  indications  of  their  appreciation  of  his  own 
devotion  and  loyalty  in  readily  dropping  a  bar  from  his 
Captain's  shoulder  strap,  that  the  interests  of  the  Regiment 
might  be  promoted.  The  last  day  in  Springfield  terminated 
with  a  reception  by  Mayor  Bemis  for  officers  of  the  Tenth  and 
his  friends  at  his  Chestnut  street  residence. 

Not  only  did  the  16th  of  July  see  the  departure  of  the 
Regiment,  but  it  also  beheld  the  greatest  throng  of  people 
that  any  military  affair  had  ever  drawn  to  this  city  on  the 
banks  of  the  Connecticut.  Western  Massachusetts  was  alive 
to  the  import  of  the  day  and  all  other  duties  were  left  in 
abeyance,  while  a  lasting  farewell  was  taken  of  the  fathers, 
husbands,  sons  and  brothers  who  were  about  to  take  another 
step  forward.  Again  there  were  tokens  of  regard  placed  in 
the  hands  of  officers,  not  to  mention  the  hundreds  of  gifts  of 
lesser  note  to  enlisted  men  in  the  ranks.  Mayor  Bemis  and 
Ex-Lt.  Gov.  Trask  called  on  Captain  Lombard  of  Company  F 
and  gave  him  a  pair  of  pistols,  thus  inducing  some  entertaining 
speaking,  the  presentation  being  made  by  Wm.  S.  Shurtleff, 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


Esq.,  subsequently  Colonel  of  the  46th  Regiment,  M.  V.  M. 
Not  to  be  outdone  in  generosity,  the  men  from  Holyoke  and 
West  Springfield  in  Company  I  gave  Captain  Clifford  and 
Lieutenant  Bennett  each  a  revolver  and  to  Lieutenant  Newell 
a  gold  chain  and  signet  ring.  Lieutenant  Bigelow,  also  of 
Company  F,  received  from  the  workmen  of  the  state  printers' 
office  in  Boston,  where  he  had  labored,  a  fine  sash  and  a  pair 
of  epaulettes. 

The   orignial  roster  of   the  officers   of   the  Tenth,   as  the 
Regiment  left  Springfield  follows : 

Colonel,  HENRY  S.  BRIGGS,  Pittsfield 

Lieut.  Colonel,  JEFFORD  M.  DECKER,  Lawrence 

Major,  WILLIAM  R.  MARSH,  Northampton 
Surgeon,  CYRUS  N.  CHAMBERLAIN,  Northampton 

Assistant  Surgeon,  WILLIAM  HOLBROOK,  Palmer 

Chaplain,  FREDERICK  A.  BARTON,  Springfield 
Adjutant,  OLIVER  EDWARDS,  Springfield 

Quartermaster,  JOHN  W.  ROWLAND,  North  Adams 
Company     Captains  First  Lieutenants  Second  Lieutenants 

A     Ralph  O.  Ives,  James  L.  Bacon,  Henry  L.  Wilcox, 

Gt.  Barrington  Gt.  Barrington  Gt.  Barrington 

B     Elisha  Smart,  Samuel  C.  Traver, 

Adams  Adams 


C     Joseph  B.  Parsons,    James  H.  Wetherell 


Northampton 


Northampton 


D     Thomas  W.  Clapp,     Charles  Wheeler, 


H 


K 


Pittsfield 
Frederick  Barton 

Springfield 
Hosea  C.  Lombard 

Springfield 
Edwin  E.  Day, 

Greenfield 
Ozro  Miller, 

Shelburne 
John  H.  Clifford, 

Holyoke 


Dalton 
Byron  Porter 

Springfield 
Hiram  A.  Keith 

Springfield 
George  Pierce, 

Greenfield 


Lewis  W.  Goddard, 

Adams 
Flavel  Shurtleff 

Northampton 
George  E.  Hager, 

Pittsfield 
Wallace  A.  Putnam, 

Danvers 
George  W.   Bigelow, 

Springfield 
Lorenzo  L.  Remington 

Greenfield 


Shelburne 
Joseph  K.  Newell, 

Springfield 

Lucius  B.  Walkley,    David  M.  Chase, 
Westfield  Westfield 


Chandler  J. Woodward  Benj.  F.  Leland 

Shelburne 

Joseph  H.  Bennett, 
West  Springfield 

Edwin  T.  Johnson, 


Westfield 


Shortly  after  1.00  p.  m.,  escorted  by  the  Springfield  Cadets 
and  the  Union  Guard,  the  Tenth  Regiment  bade  farewell  to 


JULY  16,  '61  MEDFORD  23 

Hampden  Park  and  marched  to  the  station,  through  a  con 
tinuous  scene  of  excitement  and  enthusiasm.  More  train  room 
was  allotted  the  men  than  they  would  get  in  car  rides  a  few 
months  later;  seventeen  passenger  cars  were  assigned  to  the 
Regiment  and  all  were  well  filled.  The  pangs  of  parting  were 
just  the  same  as  similar  events  throughout  the  Nation  were 
evoking.  The  hurried  hand-shake,  a  last  embrace,  a  parting 
kiss,  a  fervent  "God  bless  you,"  and  the  long  line  of  cars 
moved  slowly  away,  thus  creating  in  many  cases  a  final 
separation,  since  some  of  the  departing  soldiers  would  make 
no  visits  home  and  the  glances  they  were  now  taking  of  the 
passing  scenes  were  their  last  views  of  Western  Massachusetts. 

MEDFORD 

Two  engines  were  necessary  to  draw  the  long  train  which 
was  in  charge  of  Charles  O.  Russell,  Assistant  Superintendent 
of  the  Western  Road,  as  this  particular  portion  of  the  Boston 
and  Albany  Railroad  was  then  called,  and  the  engineers,  John 
Norcutt  and  Cyrus  Worthy,  thereby  achieved  immortality. 
Nothing  could  exceed  the  fervor  of  the  greetings  extended 
along  the  entire  route.  At  Palmer  several  hundred  women 
crowded  the  platform  of  the  station  and  one  of  them  held  up  a 
beautiful  bouquet  which  was  passed  by  a  civilian  to  Colonel 
Briggs,  the  flowers  having  with  them  a  note  expressive  of  the 
patriotic  devotion  and  loyalty  which  were  pervading  all  hearts 
at  the  time.  Everywhere,  as  the  train  sped  along,  great  crowds 
of  people  were  waiting  for  a  sight  of  the  soldiers  who  were 
to  reach  the  South  by  an  eastward  route.  Arriving  in  Boston 
shortly  after  5.00  p.  m.,  the  Regiment  was  received  by  the 
2d  Battalion  of  Infantry,  under  command  of  Gen.  Samuel 
Andrews  and  escorted  across  the  city  into  Charlestown  as 
far  as  Bunker  Hill  on  the  road  to  Medford,  following  thus  the 
route  taken  by  Paul  Revere  in  his  famous  ride  and,  on  Charles- 
town  Neck,  marching  where  Putnam  raged,  June  17,  1775, 
at  the  falling  back  of  the  Americans.  Preparations  for  the 
reception  of  the  men  had  been  made  by  a  detachment  under 
Captain  Walkley  of  Company  K,  that  had  left  Springfield  the 


24  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

day  before.  Consequently,  when  the  Regiment  arrived,  it 
was  to  find  quarters  all  ready. 

The  new  camp  consisted  of  about  seventy  acres  of  newly 
mowed  meadow  land,  situated  on  the  great  turnpike,  leading 
from  Medford  to  Chariest  own  and  on  the  banks  of  the  Mystic. 
The  land  itself  was  once  owned  by  John  Quincy  Adams,  from 
which  interesting  fact  the  new  stopping  place  was  called 
"Camp  Adams,"  in  many  respects  more  healthful  and  pleasant 
than  the  one  so  recently  occupied  in  Hampden  Park.  The 
near-by  Mystic  afforded  excellent  salt  water  bathing  facilities 
which  the  soldiers  were  not  slow  to  utilize.  Owing  to  limited 
time  for  preparation,  supper  in  the  new  camp  was  wanting, 
but  rations,  stowed  in  the  haversacks  in  Springfield,  came  in 
conveniently,  though  some  of  the  men  found  the  alleged  want 
of  food  a  most  excellent  excuse  for  going  back  to  Boston, 
whence  a  certain  part  did  not  return  until  compelled  to  do  so 
by  a  guard  sent  in  for  that  purpose.  For  such  remissness,  the 
stragglers  were  ordered  to  serve  as  well-diggers  for  the  good 
of  the  entire  camp,  since  the  late  John  Q.  Adams  had  failed 
to  provide  for  an  adequate  supply  of  good  drinking  water. 
Here  began  the  system  of  company  cooking,  each  one  detailing 
two  or  more  men  for  this  purpose.  Contract  service  was  at  an 
end  and  the  chronic  kickers  had  to  transfer  their  complaints 
from  the  old  to  the  new  style.  There  are  in  existence  traces 
of  the  camp's  being  known  by  some  as  Camp  McClellan,  from 
General  Geo.  B.,  who,  in  Western  Virginia,  was  rapidly  climb 
ing  the  ladder  of  fame. 

Quarters  for  the  Regiment  were  found  in  seventy-six  tents, 
Boyd  patent,  circular,  and  supported  by  a  single  upright  pole 
in  the  center,  each  tent  capable  of  containing  eighteen  men, 
provided  all  were  good  natured.  There  were  two  entrances, 
front  and  rear,  each  protected  by  a  flap  or  apron,  and  venti 
lated  by  an  aperture  at  the  top,  with  a  bonnet  above  to  be 
raised  or  lowered  at  will,  protecting  the  interior  in  wet  weather. 
The  officers'  tents  were  near  the  highway,  while  those  of  the 
enlisted  men  were  nearer  the  river.  During  the  entire  stay 
in  Medford,  friends  were  freely  admitted  to  the  camp.  July 


JULY  17,  '61  MEDFORD  25 

17th  brought  the  camp  outfit  for  the  officers  who,  their  first 
night  in  camp,  had  slept  on  mother  earth  without  blankets 
or  furniture.  In  the  afternoon  line  was  formed  for  dress 
parade,  the  ten  companies  taking  their  stations  according  to 
the  rank  of  the  several  captains.  The  commanders  of  com 
panies  were  ranked  by  their  commissions  in  the  Massachusetts 
Militia,  as  their  commissions  in  the  volunteer  service  were  all 
of  the  same  date.  Capt.  Ozro  Miller  was  given  the  right  of 
the  line  by  virtue  of  his  commission  being  dated  June  7,  1859; 
Capt.  Edwin  E.  Day  had  the  second  post  of  honor,  his  com 
mission  dating  from  August  5,  1859;  Elisha  Smart,  colors, 
April  30,  1861;  Lucius  B.  Walkley,  May  4,  1861;  John  H. 
Clifford,  May  6,  1861;  Hosea  C.  Lombard,  May  16,  1861; 
Fred.  Barton,  May  23,  1861;  Ralph  O.  Ives,  May  28,  1861; 
Thomas  W.  Clapp,  June  14,  1861;  Joseph  B.  Parsons,  June 
21,  1861. 

The  first  day's  trial  of  domestic  or  company  cooking  was 
pronounced  a  success,  the  men  claiming  that  the  soup  was 
far  better  than  what  they  had  been  receiving.  The  stay  here 
was  to  be  a  scant  ten  days,  but  it  served  as  a  good  initiation 
to  the  actual  camp  life  soon  to  follow,  many  miles  nearer  the 
enemy,  nothing  being  neglected  that  would  tend  to  make 
better  soldiers  of  the  novices.  On  the  22d  came  the  wheeled 
outfit  which  was  to  transport  the  camp  effects  in  coming 
months.  There  were  twenty-five  baggage  wagons,  five  am 
bulances,  two  hospital  wagons  and  123  horses  delivered  to 
Quartermaster  Rowland  at  the  Cambridge  Arsenal.  At  2.00 
p.  m.  a  detachment  of  men  proceeded  to  the  Arsenal  and  at 
5.00  o'clock  they  were  back  in  camp,  having  matched  and 
harnessed  the  horses  and  driven  them  to  Medford  without  a 
break.  Tuesday,  the  23d,  orders  were  promulgated  to  the 
effect  that  on  the  25th  the  Regiment  would  embark  for 
Washington.  This  was  a  surprise,  for  it  had  not  been  expected 
that  the  start  would  be  so  soon,  but  news  from  the  Bull  Run 
battle,  July  21st,  was  not  of  such  a  nature  as  to  warrant 
delay.  At  this  late  date  it  may  be  imagined  how  the  story 
of  that  wretched  beginning  of  the  great  battles  was  told  over 


26  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

and  over  in  the  camp,  and  many  were  wondering  if  they  had 
been  present  whether  the  result  might  not  have  been  different. 
Rapid  proficiency  had  been  made  in  drill,  and  the  dress 
parades  were  daily  witnessed  by  multitudes  from  Medford 
and  adjoining  towns.  On  the  23d,  in  the  forenoon,  a  trial 
march  was  made  through  the  streets  of  the  town,  thus  afford 
ing  all  a  view  not  only  of  the  beautiful  village,  but  also  of  two 
of  the  famous  distilleries  where  had  been  made  for  more  than 
a  hundred  years,  the  decoction  which,  under  the  appellation 
of  Medford  Rum,  had  carried  the  name  of  the  Middlesex  town 
around  the  world.  Again  Captain  Marshall  visited  the  camp 
and  administered  the  oath  to  about  one  hundred  men  who 
quite  filled  the  Regiment.  Among  these  was  Drummer- Boy 
Myron  P.  Walker  of  Company  C,  who  had  been  absent  June 
21st.  Only  fourteen  years  old,  he  was  unqualifiedly  the 
youngest  "man"  in  the  Tenth  Regiment.  To  crown  all  the 
experiences  of  this  eventful  day,  and  to  indicate  the  esteem 
in  which  the  Regiment  was  held  by  the  Medford  people,  the 
ladies  of  East  Medford,  Pleasant  and  Ship  streets  visited  the 
camp  in  the  evening,  bringing  with  them  four  barrels  of 
doughnuts,  besides  baskets  of  cake,  currants  and  other 
luxuries.  Each  company  received  four  pailfuls,  enough  for 
a  good  sample  of  home  cooking  and,  through  well-filled 
stomachs,  to  attest  the  kindness  of  their  Medford  friends  for 
whom  they  rent  the  air  with  enthusiastic  cheers. 

The  breaking  of  camp  began  the  24th,  with  the  sending  to 
Boston  of  the  extra  baggage  of  the  Regiment  that  it  might 
be  loaded  on  the  steamers  5.  R.  Spaulding  and  Ben  De  Ford, 
then  waiting  at  the  dock,  vessels  to  be  pretty  well  known  in 
following  years  as  transports  for  soldiers  all  along  the  Atlantic 
coast.  Thursday,  the  25th,  saw  the  remainder  of  the  baggage 
and  equipage  packed  early  in  the  morning.  At  7.30  a.  m. 
tents  were  struck,  loaded  upon  the  wagons  and  everything 
was  made  ready  for  a  start.  Again  the  great  hearts  of  the 
Medford  citizens  appeared  in  that  they  served  the  "boys" 
with  a  farewell  breakfast  of  baked  beans  and  brown  bread, 
not  a  few  of  them  coming  on  the  ground  to  say  "Good-bye;" 


JULY  25,  '61  MEDFORD  27 

there  was  also  a  considerable  showing  of  friends  from  the 
towns  of  the  western  part  of  the  state.  At  2.00  p.  m.  the 
Regiment  marched  to  the  village  of  Medford,  less  than  a  mile 
away,  where,  after  forming  a  hollow  square,  prayer  was 
offered  by  one  of  the  village  clergymen,  after  which  Ex-Gov. 
George  N.  Briggs,  father  of  the  Colonel,  addressed  the  men 
in  an  impressive  manner.  There  is  no  other  similar  incident 
recorded  during  the  war.  Himself  renowned  for  the  purity  of 
his  character,  the  excellence  of  his  long  administration,  his 
words  were  heard  by  appreciative  listeners,  none  of  them 
thinking  how  soon  those  instructive  lips  were  to  be  stilled  in 
death.  Beginning  with  a  statement  of  why  the  men  were 
leaving  their  homes  with  hostile  intent,  pointing  out  the  duty 
of  the  President  and  their  own,  he  proceeded  to  address  them 
in  a  paternal  spirit,  touching  upon  the  value  of  character, 
the  vices  he  would  have  them  shun,  and  concluded  with  the 
following  personal  appeal: 

You  are  going  to  meet  active  and  earnest  opponents' 
Never  underrate  the  power  or  bravery  of  an  enemy.  If  you 
come  in  conflict  with  them,  show  yourselves  to  be  men  and 
New  England  men.  If  your  enemies  are  brave  and  gallant, 
imitate  and  excel  them  in  those  qualities.  If  they  are  cruel 
and  inhuman  to  their  wounded  foes,  avoid  and  abhor  their 
example.  Such  conduct  disgraces  humanity.  Should  they 
fall  into  your  hands  as  prisoners,  remember  they  are  your 
brethren,  and  treat  them  with  kindness  and  magnanimity. 
Show  them  that  it  is  not  your  purpose  nor  the  purpose  of  the 
Government  you  defend  to  subjugate  them  as  enemies,  but  to 
restore  them  to  the  dominion  of  the  laws,  and  the  benign  and 
just  power  of  the  Constitution,  to  the  enjoyment  of  the  same 
privileges  which  you  claim  for  yourselves.  Never  raise  your 
weapons  upon  a  fallen  foe,  never  stain  those  bright  bayonets 
with  the  blood  of  wounded  and  disabled  foes. 

Officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Tenth  Regiment:  whilst  you 
rally  around  and  defend  the  standard  of  your  country,  never 
forget  that  you  owe  allegiance  to  a  Higher  Power.  We  must 
all  render  an  account  of  our  conduct  here  to  the  Supreme 
Ruler  and  Judge  of  heaven  and  earth.  The  soldier,  of  all  men, 
should  feel  that  he  is  in  the  presence  of  God  and  humbly 
implore  His  protection.  He  is  a  God  of  battles,  and  will  be  a 


28  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

shield  and  buckler  to  those  who  put  their  trust  in  Him. 
Trust  in  his  mercy  and  rely  on  his  mighty  arm  for  protection. 
May  He  preserve  and  bless  you  all. 

When  the  army  of  an  ancient  republic  were  going  forth 
to  battle  a  mother  of  one  of  the  soldiers  said  to  him,  "My  son, 
return  home  with  your  shield  or  on  your  shield."  Adopting 
the  sentiment  of  that  noble  mother,  let  me  say  to  the  com 
mander  of  this  Regiment:  My  son!  and  to  the  true  and  brave 
officers  associated  with  you,  and  to  the  resolute,  hardy  and 
intelligent  men  under  your  command,  bring  back  those  beauti 
ful  and  rich  colors  presented  you  by  the  ladies  of  Springfield, 
the  emblems  of  your  country's  power  and  glory,  waving  over 
your  heads,  unstained,  or  return  wrapped  in  their  gory  folds. 

Soon  after  the  address,  the  troops  were  taken  by  train  to 
Boston,  reaching  the  city  at  3.15  p.  m.  Forming  in  line  on 
Canal  street  and  preceded  by  a  platoon  of  police,  the  Regiment 
moved  through  Haymarket  Square,  Blackstone,  Hanover, 
Court,  State  and  India  streets  to  Central  wharf.  While  no 
attempt  was  made  at  parade,  taking  only  those  streets  leading 
most  directly  to  the  destination,  the  march  through  the  "  Hub  " 
was  very  much  like  an  ovation,  multitudes  of  people  being 
ready  to  see  and  speed  the  departing  soldiers  with  the  hearti 
est  of  cheers.  There  was  no  delay  in  beginning  the  embarka 
tion.  Companies  C,  K,  B,  D  and  G,  under  Colonel  Briggs, 
with  the  Major,  Adjutant  and  Surgeon  went  on  the  5.  R. 
Spaulding  while  Companies  A,  H,  E,  F  and  I,  with  Lieut.  Col. 
Decker,  the  Quartermaster,  and  Assistant  Surgeon,  embarked 
on  the  Ben  De  Ford.  The  latter  steamer  was  the  first  to  leave 
and  she  steamed  away  amidst  the  cheers  of  the  people  on  the 
docks  and  those  of  the  soldiers  on  board.  The  schoolship, 
Massachusetts,  was  saluted  with  a  cannon  shot  as  she  was 
passed,  with  the  boys  manning  the  yards  and  cheering  the 
men.  Both  steamers  exchanged  greetings  with  the  13th 
Regiment,  then  camped  in  Fort  Independence,  the  men  of 
both  regiments  cheering  to  the  very  limit  of  their  voices. 
The  Regiment  with  all  its  outfit,  previously  enumerated, 
filled  two  great  ocean  steamers.  As  yet  neither  officers  nor 
men  had  learned  in  what  small  compass  they  could  be  stowed 
if  need  arose;  a  little  later  the  baggage  train  would  be  meas- 


JULY  27,  '61  EN  ROUTE  29 

urably  reduced,  and   as  for  the   men,  they  would   sleep  so 
much  closer  that  four  men  would  stay  where  one  now  abided. 

EN  ROUTE 

It  was  not  a  long  voyage  on  which  these  Massachusetts  men 
were  embarked,  but  it  sufficed  to  give  them  a  taste  of  the  sea 
and  to  demonstrate  how  many  of  them  were  good  sailors' 
Of  course  they  took  in  all  the  glories  of  Boston  Harbor  as  they 
glided  along,  and  night  shut  down  upon  them  before  they 
were  well  away  from  the  land.  During  the  night  the  vessels 
steamed  out  of  Massachusetts  Bay  and  the  morning  of  the 
26th  revealed  only  a  distant  view  of  the  Bay  State  to  these 
young  voyagers,  the  most  of  whom  were  born  and  nurtured 
within  her  borders.  Had  that  considerable  portion  of  the 
gazers  known  that  this  was  their  last  glimpse  of  dear  Old 
Massachusetts,  they  would  have  looked  even  more  intently 
than  they  did,  for  it  was  a  fact  that  fully  one -third  of  these  one 
thousand  men  never  pressed  the  soil  of  their  native  state 
again. 

July  27th,  in  the  afternoon,  the  steamers  rounded  into 
Chesapeake  Bay  and  the  men  realized  that  they  were  nearing 
the  enemy's  country,  since  they  were  overhauled  by  the  U.  S. 
steamer,  Quaker  City,  one  of  the  blockading  squadron,  and 
as  they  passed  up  the  Bay  and  into  the  waters  of  the  Potomac, 
they  noted  the  points  that  had  been  acquiring  fame  within 
the  preceding  few  weeks.  There  at  the  left  was  Matthias 
Point  where  June  27th  Capt.  James  H.  Ward  of  the  Freeborn 
had  lost  his  life  at  Rebel  hands,  and  eyes  were  strained  for  a 
view  of  the  scene,  quiet  enough  now.  Sunday,  the  28th, 
revealed  to  those  who  were  looking  a  Confederate  flag  well  up 
on  the  high  land  by  Aquia  Creek,  a  name  even  then  prominent 
in  the  news  of  the  day.  A  small  cannon  on  board  was  fired 
at  the  Rebel  works.  Truly  the  rebellious  regions  were  nearing. 
Tolling  bells  proclaimed  the  passing  of  Mount  Vernon,  the 
home  and  burial  place  of  Washington,  and  many  wondered 
that  the  fortunes  of  war  should  place  this,  of  all  places,  so 
near  the  hands  of  those  who  would  destroy  the  very  govern- 


30  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

ment  he  had  done  so  much  to  establish.  The  band  played  the 
"Dead  March"  in  "Saul,"  while  Surgeon  Chamberlain  signal 
ized  the  occasion  by  calling  attention  to  the  soarings  of  a 
magnificent  eagle  which  on  closer  inspection  proved  to  be  a 
turkey  buzzard.  All  sorts  of  craft  were  encountered,  some 
with  and  some  without  flags,  many  of  them  apparently  fitted 
with  colors  adapted  to  either  Rebel  or  Federal  demands. 
Many  noted  the  bare  flag  staff  above  the  Marshall  House, 
Alexandria,  where  Ellsworth  was  shot  May  24th. 

It  was  4.00  p.  m.  when  the  Ben  De  Ford  touched  the  wharf 
at  the  Arsenal,  while  the  Spaulding  discharged  its  load  at  the 
Navy  Yard.  It  was  a  short  task  for  those  on  the  De  Ford  to 
land,  stack  arms  and  then  to  await  orders.  Discomfort  soon 
arose  in  the  shape  of  a  drenching  rain,  finding  the  men  wholly 
unprotected.  They  did  their  best,  however,  to  find  shelter 
beneath  the  great  cannon  and  some  sought  refuge  in  the 
neighboring  jail.  Supper,  which  did  not  appear  till  dark, 
consisted  of  only  a  half  barrel  of  sea  biscuit  to  a  Company. 
The  discomforts  of  the  first  night  in  the  Capital  these  men  had 
come  to  defend  may  be  imagined.  The  29th  brought  more 
rain  and  a  continued  wait,  extending  till  about  4.00  p.  m., 
when  they  were  directed  to  proceed  to  Kalorama  near  Merid 
ian  Hill,  about  two  and  a  half  miles  N.  W.  from  the  Capitol. 
The  route  was  by  the  great  edifice  with  its  impressive  though 
unfinished  dome,  down  Pennsylvania  avenue,  in  many  re 
spects  the  most  noted  street  in  the  New  World,  passing  thus 
Willard's  Hotel,  so  renowned  in  the  history  of  American 
politics,  halting  briefly  in  front  of  the  White  House,  where 
many  an  eye  sought  a  glimpse  of  "Honest  Old  Abe,"  the 
President,  thence  marching  at  a  brisk  pace  to  camp,  reaching 
the  same  just  at  dark.  Before  tents  could  be  pitched,  rain 
began  to  fall  again,  and  the  unlucky  soldiers  were  drenched  to 
the  skin,  but  in  spite  of  difficulties,  one-half  of  the  tents  went 
up  and  the  saturated  men  turned  in  for  the  night. 
.  When  the  morning  of  the  30th  dawned,  camp  was  retired 
a  short  distance  from  the  road,  a  strong  guard  was  posted  and 
no  person  was  allowed  to  pass  after  dark.  Muskets  were 


AUG.  5,  '61  EN  ROUTE  31 

loaded  with  ball  cartridges  and  orders  were  given  to  fire  at 
everything  that  failed  to  respond  to  a  challenge  after  9.00  p.  m. 
Near  by  were  regiments  that  had  fought  at  Bull  Run  and  the 
men  were  eloquent  in  their  recitals  of  hair-breadth  escapes, 
quite  blood  curdling  to  the  inexperienced  men  from  the  East. 
Colored  people  abounded,  the  greater  part  of  them  intent 
on  making  a  cent  by  the  selling  of  all  sorts  of  eatables  and 
other  items  pleasing  to  the  soldier.  One  old  colored  woman 
black  as  Erebus,  who  had  fallen  heir  to  a  couple  of  hams  left 
by  the  regiment  recently  encamped  there,  held  up  both  hands 
in  gratitude  and  astonishment  saying,  "  I's  heerd  dat  de  Lord 
was  gwine  to  set  de  table  in  de  Wilderness,  an'  I  blebe  de  time 
hab  come."  The  first  Sunday  in  camp,  August  4th,  was 
signalized  by  the  issuing  of  new  uniforms,  gray  trousers  and 
blue  blouses,  their  first  public  appearance  being  at  dress 
parade ;  the  former  attire  was  thought  to  resemble  too  closely 
that  of  the  enemy. 

Monday,  the  5th,  passed  without  incident  until  dress  parade 
when,  at  its  close,  the  Adjutant  announced  that  the  First 
Sergeants  would  not  dismiss  their  companies  as  usual,  but 
hold  them  subject  to  further  orders.  Accordingly  all  were 
marched  back  to  quarters  and  there,  amid  all  sorts  of  rumors, 
remained  in  line  for  an  hour.  At  last  they  were  ordered  to 
break  ranks  and  be  ready  to  move  at  seven  o'clock  the  next 
morning.  Considerable  activity  followed,  the  commissaries 
receiving  three  days'  rations  from  the  Quartermaster,  one 
day's  part  to  be  cooked  at  once.  The  6th  started  in  early, 
tents  were  struck  and  loaded,  twenty  rounds  of  ammunition 
were  served  to  each  man  and,  in  high  spirits,  the  Regiment 
marched  away,  entirely  ignorant  of  its  destination.  A  march 
of  three  and  a  half  miles,  a  little  north  of  due  east,  brought 
the  men  to  a  new  stopping  place  near  the  head  of  Seventh 
street  and  about  four  miles  north  of  the  Capitol.  The  pace 
had  been  a  rapid  one  and  many  of  the  men,  unable  to  take  it, 
had  fallen  out  through  exhaustion  or  sunstroke.  The  camp 
was  pitched  in  a  cornfield  where  stalks  were  growing  to  the 
height  of  fifteen  feet,  a  rare  sight  to  men  used  to  less  luxuriant 


32  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

growth.  Here  ensued  one  of  the  most  important  acts  in  the 
history  of  the  Tenth,  for  it  was  on  this  day  and  place  that  the 
Regiment  was  brigaded  with  the  Seventh  Massachusetts, 
Second  Rhode  Island  and  the  Thirty-Sixth  New  York,  thus 
beginning  intimate  relations  to  continue  as  long  as  the  several 
organizations  remained  in  the  service,  and  in  which  each  regi 
ment  had  an  ever  increasing  respect  for  the  loyalty  and 
bravery  of  the  other.  Absence  of  water  rendered  the  place  an 
unfit  one  for  a  camp.  Thursday,  the  8th,  the  first  inspection 
was  had  by  Gen.  D.  N.  Couch,  a  Massachusetts  man,  first 
Colonel  of  the  Seventh,  and  now  the  Brigadier  in  command. 
The  inspection,  though  tiresome,  was  not  particularly  im 
pressive. 

BRIGHTWOOD 

On  account  of  the  undesirable  location  of  the  camp,  a  new 
one  was  sought  on  the  9th,  and  as  early  at  3.30  a.  m.  the  reveille 
sounded;  at  4.00  o'clock  battalion  line  was  formed,  camp 
was  broken  and  the  men  were  off,  halting  at  last  at  Brightwood, 
a  beautiful  spot,  somewhat  south  of  the  residence  of  Francis 
P.  Blair,  Sr.,  father  of  the  Postmaster  General.  The  place 
was  to  become  famous  three  years  later  in  that  from  the 
parapet  of  the  fort  which  the  Tenth  was  to  erect,  Abraham 
Lincoln  would  witness  the  assault  on  the  Nation's  Capital, 
largely  protected  by  the  future  toil  of  these  men  from  Massa 
chusetts.  The  Tenth  was  the  furthest  regiment  out,  and 
pickets  were  stationed  on  the  road  towards  the  city  till  those 
of  the  next  regiment  were  met.  The  attack  of  measles  from 
which  the  Regiment  had  suffered  in  Springfield  did  not  end 
there  for  here  in  Brightwood  the  disease  was  again  prevalent. 

It  would  seem  that  a  change  in  original  intentions  had 
come  over  the  minds  of  the  authorities,  for  while  the  Tenth 
and  other  regiments  did  not  know  it,  they  were  to  be  held  in 
this  vicinity  a  number  of  months  to  assist  in  rendering  the 
Republic's  Capital  safe.  It  was  through  no  lack  of  opportunity 
that  the  victorious  Rebels,  after  Bull  Run,  did  not  capture 
and  sack  Washington.  The  same  panic  which  had  sent  Union 


AUG.  9,  '61  BRIGHTWOOD  33 

soldiers  helter-skelter  to  the  Potomac  and  across  it,  had 
deprived  the  enemy  of  his  wits  and  the  city  was  saved.  Not 
to  be  thus  imperiled  again,  apparently  the  military  powers 
had  determined  to  hold  the  new  regiments,  as  they  came  down 
from  the  North,  and  set  them  at  the  not  entirely  pleasing  task 
of  digging,  each  organization  to  have  a  taste  of  the  work.  In 
this  way  for  more  than  a  year,  hardly  a  regiment  passed 
through  Washington  that  did  not  halt  a  longer  or  shorter 
time  to  lift  a  shovel  in  making  secure  the  Capital.  While 
certain  Heavy  Artillery  organizations  were  assigned  here  for 
a  much  longer  period,  not  being  ordered  out  until  Grant 
assumed  command  in  the  spring  of  1864,  hundreds  of  others 
could,  with  truthfulness  say,  "We  helped  to  build  those  forts." 
Many  "  Know-it-alls"  had  their  fling  at  the  labor  and  treasure 
thus  expended,  saying  it  was  utter  nonsense,  but  the  scare 
of  July  1861  was  an  effectual  one,  so  that  when  the  Rebel  came 
again  in  another  July  three  years  later,  he  found  the  forts 
bristling  with  guns  and  the  head  and  front  of  the  defense  were 
to  be  made  in  and  near  the  fortification,  still  in  the  future, 
but  to  arise  slowly  by  Massachusetts  hands. 

The  llth  of  the  month  was  cold  and  misty  and  though  it 
was  Sunday,  the  reveille  sounded  at  4.30  a.  m.  and  breakfast 
followed  at  6.30.  Guard  mount  was  at  7.30,  and  at  8.00  o'clock, 
inspection,  a  busy  time  for  a  day  of  rest.  The  Catholics  of  the 
Regiment  had  a  chance  to  attend  service  of  their  own  belief 
in  the  camp  of  the  36th  New  York,  and  so,  some  sixty  strong, 
marched  away.  At  4.00  p.  m.  came  the  first  service  by  Chap 
lain  Barton  who  spoke  from  Matt.  VI,  33,  "But  seek  ye  first 
the  kingdom  of  God,"  following  his  address  with  some  practical 
remarks  on  the  evils  of  profanity.  To  crown  the  interest  of  the 
occasion,  there  followed  a  christening,  the  subject  being  a  fine 
baby  from  a  neighboring  family,  the  chaplain  officiating  and 
a  large  part  of  the  Regiment  looking  on,  quite  willing  to  serve 
as  sponsors.  Gradually  the  men  were  being  introduced  to  the 
distinguished  names  of  the  day,  for  on  the  12th  at  about 
5.00  p.  m.,  General  McClellan  visited  the  camp  and  spoke 
words  of  praise  concerning  his  impressions  and  assured  the 


H  ^ 

tn  -* 

o  S 

S  ^ 

—  tt 


§ 

W    HJ 


AUG.  12,  '61  BRIGHTWOOD  35 

soldiers  that  he  should  soon  have  need  of  them.  Of  certain 
men  who  were  receiving  discharge  papers  in  those  early  days, 
one  fellow-soldier  remarked,  "They  aren't  worth  a  row  of 
pins  as  soldiers;  the  'cannon  fever'  attacks  these  men  hard. 
One  thought  if  he  ate  Lucifer  matches  it  would  help  him;  it 
did — to  a  case  of  the  phthisic  and  a  discharge.  I  hope  he 
feels  better  now.  He  was  going  to  bring  Jeff.  Davis's  head  home 
with  him  on  his  bayonet,  at  least  that  was  the  way  he  talked 
before  leaving  the  town." 

While  regimental  annals  are  not  over  full  of  dirt-throwing 
details,  it  is  apparent  from  casual  mention  here  and  there, 
that  all  the  men  were  getting  their  share  of  work  entirely  un- 
thought  of  when  they  signed  their  enlistment  papers.  Thus 
August  20th,  Companies  F  and  I  were  said  to  have  been  dig 
ging  on  the  fortifications,  "New  work  for  them."  The  bread 
consumed  by  the  Regiment  came  from  the  Capital  bakery, 
one  of  the  noted  institutions  of  Washington  during  the  war, 
where  loaves  to  the  number  of  fifty  or  sixty  thousand  could 
be  turned  out  daily.  To  Massachusetts  men  the  fact  was  all 
the  more  interesting  in  that  the  ovens,  down  in  the  vaults 
beneath  the  great  building,  were  constructed  under  the 
direction  of  Lieut.  T.  J.  Gate  of  Company  F,  Sixth  Mass.,  a 
Lowell  man  who  thus  demonstrated  the  wonderful  versatility 
of  the  American  soldier.  Sunday,  the  25th,  in  connection 
with  the  religious  services  the  excellence  of  a  choir,  organized 
from  the  men,  was  shown,  their  voices  blending  well  with  the 
music  of  the  brass  band.  On  the  26th,  Luther  Hill,  a  promi 
nent  citizen  of  Spencer  visited  Brightwood,  bringing  with  him 
numerous  parcels  from  the  homes  represented,  and  besides, 
ten  dollars  in  gold  for  each  man  from  that  town.  It  goes 
without  saying  that  he  was  heartily  received.  Picket  duty  in 
those  days  was  thoroughly  enjoyed.  "Peaches  and  green  corn 
are  in  their  prime  and  I  guess  we  do  more  foraging  than  guard 
ing,  but  I  don't  care,  the  most  of  the  folks  are  more  Secesh 
than  Union,  no  matter  what  they  profess  and  some  don't 
even  do  that.  Five  of  us  took  supper  with  the  natives; 
biscuit,  butter  and  honey;  we  paid  the  woman  fifteen  cents 


36 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


apiece;    not  a  very  heavy  spread,  but  it  was  a  change  from 
regular  rations." 

It  has  often  been  said  that  there  were  two  armies  contest 
ing  against  the  foe — that  at  the  front,  and  the  other  at  home, 
composed  of  relatives  and  friends,  all  praying  and  encouraging 


Co.  C. 

Day,  C.  B.  Kinsley, 
Braman,  Brewster. 


Co.  C. 

Left  to  right  (standing) 

Williams,  Bliss,  Rust,  Bishop, 

(Sitting)  Cook,  Wright. 


Co.  F. 

Lts.  Keith  &  Bigelow, 

Dan.  Hosmer,  Capt. 

Lombard,  Serg't.  Knight. 


CAMP    GROUPS,    BRIGHTWOOD. 


in  a  hundred  ways.  Good  illustration  of  the  truth  of  the 
statement  is  found  in  a  letter  still  preserved,  sent  by  the  Rev. 
John  Hunt,  pastor  of  the  Baprist  church  in  Wendell  to  the 
Wendell  members  of  Company  G,  viz,  Brooks,  Green,  Lewis, 
Sawyer,  Whipple,  Amos  and  T.  F.  Williams.  The  letter, 
dated  Aug.  27th,  praises  the  men  for  their  devotion  to  home 
and  country,  their  cheerful  endurance  of  hardship,  and 
prompts  them  to  a  thorough  compliance  with  all  the  demands 
of  their  situation,  closing  with  "Fear  God  and  keep  His 
commandments,  for  this  is  the  whole  duty  of  man." 

The  next  Sunday,  Sept.  1st,  there  was  no  service,  since  the 
entire  Regiment  had  to  work  on  the  fort,  now  known  as  Fort 
Massachusetts,  an  appropriate  name,  since  two  organizations, 
giving  so  much  of  their  time  to  its  making,  the  Seventh  and 
the  Tenth,  were  from  the  Bay  State;  but  one  year  from  this 
day  a  magnificent  soldier  from  Massachusetts,  Major  Gen. 


SEPT.  1,  '61  BRIGHTWOOD  37 

Isaac  Ingalls  Stevens  fell  in  the  forefront  of  battle  at  Chantilly, 
and  thereafter  this  great  defense  bore  that  illustrious  soldier's 
name,  this  being  in  accord  with  the  policy  of  the  Government 
to  thus  recall  the  meritorious  dead  in  giving  their  names  to 
the  many  defenses  of  the  Capital  city.  At  the  close  of  the  war, 
the  sixty-eight  forts  and  batteries  in  and  around  Washington 
were  thus  designated.  Evidently  the  resident  people  of  the 
vicinity  had  grown  to  depend  on  the  religious  services  of  the 
camp  in  place  of  those  they  were  wont  to  have  in  the  small 
church  edifice,  once  standing  in  the  middle  of  the  fortifica 
tion  which  the  engineers  felt  obliged  to  erect  around  it.  Of 
necessity  it  was  torn  down  as  the  breastworks  grew  and  no 
means  of  grace  existed  for  the  citizens  between  the  fort  and 
the  city. 

The  2d  of  the  month  brought  an  innovation;  there  was  to 
be  a  brigade  review,  so  the  Regiment  was  called  into  line  at 
9.30  a.  m.  Shortly  after  came  the  other  portions  of  the  brigade 
and  the  complete  line  was  formed.  After  a  wait  of  an  hour  or 
so,  General  Couch  in  command,  General  McClellan  and  staff 
rode  into  sight.  Immediately  every  man  sprang  to  his  place 
and  the  work  began.  The  brigade  stood  in  open  order  while 
Generals  McClellan  and  Couch*  rode  down  in  front  and  then 
up  between  the  two  ranks.  After  inspection,  the  officers  stood 
in  front  of  the  Colonel's  quarters  and  the  brigade,  formed 
in  companies,  marched  around  the  parade  ground  before  them. 
At  1.00  o'clock  it  was  all  over,  the  Colonels  taking  charge  of 
their  respective  regiments,  sought  their  own  camps  and  the 
distinguished  generals  rode  away.  The  next  day,  the  3d, 
there  came  orders  that  all  should  be  ready  to  move  at  a 
moment's  notice,  a  cry  of  "Wolf"  to  which  soldiers  in  all 
wars  soon  become  used.  The  llth  brought  suggestions  of 
Springfield  in  the  person  of  Mr.  A.  D.  Briggs  who  was  accorded 
a  hearty  welcome  by  his  many  friends. 

Sept.  13th,  the  Tenth  received  its  first  visit  from  the  pay 
master.  He  did  not  leave  very  much  per  capita,  but  the 


*These  two  officers  were  classmates  at  West  Point,  being  Nos.   2 
and  13,  respectively,  of  the  Class  of  1846. 


38  THR  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

amount.  $27.33  in  gold  or  currency  at  the  will  of  the  soldier, 
was  gratefully  received  and  a  large  part  of  it  soon  found  its 
way  home  for  the  comfort  of  the  dependent  ones  there.  This 
day  also,  was  memorable  since  then  Colonel  Briggs  left  his 
command  to  return  to  Pittsfield  on  account  of  the  sudden 
death  of  his  father,  the  distinguished  Ex-Governorf  whose 
voice  the  men  had  so  recently  heard  on  leaving  Medford. 

The  first  funeral  in  camp  was  that  over  the  remains  of  John 
C.  Squires  of  Company  I  who  died  of  camp  fever  the  13th, 
and  his  comrades  paid  their  last  tribute  the  next  day,  burying 
his  body  in  one  corner  of  the  camp  ground.  Another  inspec 
tion  and  review  came  on  the  15th,  this  time  by  Gen.  Don 
Carlos  Buell,  Division  Commander  and  subsequently  famous 
in  the  western  armies.  Three  hours  in  length,  some  of  the 
men  were  obliged  to  fall  out  of  line  on  account  of  the  extreme 
heat.  For  some  reason,  the  cases  of  typhoid  fever  had  become 
numerous  and  much  was  said  and  written  about  them.  To 
help  take  care  of  those  afflicted  ones  two  generous  women  of 
Massachusetts,  Mrs.  Solyman  Merrick  of  Springfield,  and  Miss 
Helen  Wolcott  of  Agawam  came  to  Brightwood,  Sept.  17th, 
and  devoted  themselves  to  the  care  of  the  sick  in  the  hospital. 
Their  gentle,  womanly  ways  and  evident  hearty  sympathy 
soon  won  the  hearts  of  all  the  men,  both  in  the  hospital  and 
out,  so  that  only  the  books  of  Eternity  can  tell  the  good  their 
coming  did.  The  same  day  brought  back  Lieut.  Remington 
of  Company  G  with  fifty  recruits,  thus  bringing  the  Regiment 
once  more  up  to  the  maximum.  At  midnight  of  the  17th  the 
entire  camp  was  aroused  by  outpost  firing.  The  long  roll 
followed  and  its  dread  import  was  felt,  as  each  man  hurried 
to  his  place.  Company  I,  being  first  in  line  was  sent  on  the 
double  quick  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the  alarm.  Reaching 
the  spot,  it  was  learned  that  the  whole  uproar  was  due  to 


t George  Nixon  Briggs,  b.  April  13,  1796  in  Adams,  son  of  one  who 
had  fought  with  Allen  and  Stark  at  Bennington;  the  "Governor  B." 
of  Lowell's  Biglow  Papers;  had  filled  a  large  place  in  the  Massachu 
setts  heart.  He  was  fatally  injured  Sept.  4,  '61,  by  the  accidental 
discharge  of  a  shotgun,  the  same  falling  in  a  closet  where  he  was 
reaching  for  a  garment.  He  died  Sept.  12,  '61. 


SEPT.  17,  '61 


BRIGHTWOOD 


39 


King  Alcohol,  for  certain  drunken  Maryland  cavalrymen  had 
been  firing  their  revolvers  and  carbines. 

These  were  rather  days  of  work  than  of  excitement.  The 
forts  were  steadily  growing,  the  men  were  perfecting  them 
selves  in  drill,  but  there  was  no  fighting,  no  clash  of  arms  to 


Ass't.  Sur«.  Holhrook,  Mrs.  Merrick, 

Surg.  Chamberlain,  Miss  Wolcott, 

AT  SURGEON'S  TENT,   BRIGHTWOOD. 


Hosp.  Steward  Wells, 
Unknown. 


which,  in  their  dreams,  these  soldiers  had  long  since  attuned 
their  ears.  There  were,  however,  certain  amenities  which 
were  recorded,  one  being  the  presentation,  on  the  24th,  of  a 
meerschaum  pipe  and  accompaniments  to  Captain  Day  of 
Company  G  by  the  members  of  his  Company.  It  was  at  2.00 
p.  m.  that  his  loyal  followers  marched  down  to  his  tent  and 
put  forth  Lieutenant  Remington  and  Sergeant  Kaulbach  to 
represent  them;  the  former  called  the  Captain  out  while  the 
latter  made  the  presentation.  The  grateful  officer  responded 
heartily,  and  with  three  cheers  for  the  Captain,  his  "boys" 


40  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

dispersed.  On  the  25th,  Surgeon  Chamberlain  gave  out  a 
statement  as  to  the  health  of  the  Regiment.  In  this  he  com 
mented  on  the  necessary  ailments  among  any  considerable 
number  of  men  trying  new  scenes,  food  and  water;  the  effect 
of  the  epidemic  of  measles,  the  reaching  the  South  in  the  very 
midst  of  the  heated  term,  all  of  these  causes  resulting  in  con 
siderable  illness  in  all  of  the  regiments  in  the  vicinity.  The 
stay  at  Kalorama  was  especially  unfortunate  and  had  proved 
so  to  other  regiments.  The  recent  coming  to  the  Brightwood 
camp  had  changed  everything  and  all  were  improving.  The 
arrival  of  the  two  women  nurses  had  been  prolific  of  good; 
malaria,  the  source  of  much  of  the  illness,  he  ascribed  to 
exposure  to  the  sun  and  to  night  service  on  picket  and  similar 
duties.  The  tone  of  the  statement  was  hopeful  and  was  useful 
in  keeping  up  the  courage  of  the  men,  some  of  whom  were 
growing  despondent. 

Especially  was  the  hospital  lacking  in  delicacies  to  encour 
age  the  weak  and  waning  appetites.  There  was  very  little 
money  among  the  officers  and  men  and  there  was  no  regi 
mental  fund.  The  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  had  been 
generous  when  she  sent  her  sons  away  and  had  given  them 
rations  far  beyond  their  power  to  use,  especially  when  so 
many  of  the  men  in  those  days,  owing  to  seasickness,  were  not 
troubling  the  mess  table.  Much  of  this  store  remained  un 
broken  in  Washington.  At  a  meeting  of  the  line  officers, 
Captain  Miller  presiding,  it  was  voted  to  sell  these  unbroken 
packages  to  the  most  liberal  purchaser  and  to  turn  the  result 
into  a  hospital  fund.  This  was  done,  the  rations  passing  to 
Messrs.  G.  and  T.  Parker  of  Pennsylvania  Ave.,  for  about 
half  of  that  for  which  these  gentlemen  could  immediately  sell 
them  to  the  Government.  The  sick,  thereby,  were  helped  a 
very  little. 

Sept.  26th  was  a  National  Fast  Day,  and  General  McClellan 
had  ordered  army  observances,  hence  the  Regiment  was  formed 
in  a  hollow  square  and  prayers  were  read  by  Colonel  Briggs. 
About  the  time  that  the  28th  began,  marching  orders  were 
received,  lines  were  formed,  guns  stacked  and  all  were  ready 


SEPT.  26,  '61  BRIGHTWOOD  41 

to  fall  in  at  any  moment.  "Only  this  and  nothing  more." 
At  8.00  p.  m.  of  the  29th,  the  day  Munson  Hill,  Va.,  was  taken, 
came  more  scare  orders,  viz,  to  be  ready  "to  march  across 
the  river  at  noon  tomorrow."  Did  they  march?  Not  across 
the  stream,  but  with  everything  correctly  packed,  with  two 
days'  rations  in  their  haversacks,  at  11.00  a.  m.  on  the  30th, 
four  companies  were  ordered  into  Fort  Slocum,  not  so  very 
far  away,  but  it  was  only  about  two-thirds  finished  and  there 
was  no  water  to  be  had  inside  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  Half 
an  hour  after  reaching  the  fort,  General  Buell  appeared  and 
told  the  men  they  would  garrison  the  fort,  that  they  were  to 
make  themselves  as  comfortable  as  possible,  and  that  cannon 
would  be  sent  at  once  to  place  the  fort  in  condition  of  defense. 
There  was  an  abundance  of  lumber  near  and  no  time  was  lost 
in  getting  at  work.  At  5.00  o'clock,  however,  they  were  or 
dered  to  rejoin  the  Regiment  immediately.  This  they  did 
only  to  find  the  same  in  line  and  the  entire  brigade  under 
arms  just  ready  to  march  down  to  brigade  headquarters,  when 
word  was  sent  that  the  projected  expedition  was  abandoned 
and  the  men  were  dismissed  to  their  quarters.  How  many 
such  abortive  orders  every  regiment  had  to  experience! 
There  was  one  happening  at  the  fort,  however,  which  some  of 
the  men  thought  worth  the  trip  there  and  back.  While  inside 
the  fort,  General  Buell  had  left  his  horse  in  charge  of  a  member 
of  Company  A;  the  latter  being  bibulously  inclined,  thought 
the  chance  too  good  to  be  lost,  so  jumping  into  the  saddle  he 
galloped  off  to  Graves's  store,  a  mile  away,  with  the  General's 
staff  in  hot  pursuit.  But  the  man  had  the  best  horse  and,  with 
his  drink  well  stored,  was  on  his  way  back  when  he  encoun 
tered  the  provost  guard  and  was  sent  to  camp  a  prisoner.  The 
steed  was  restored  to  the  General.  For  this  frolic  the  soldier 
had  to  do  penance  a  week,  standing  on  the  head  of  a  barrel 
with  his  knapsack  filled  with  sand,  an  argument  for  total 
abstinence.  The  great  train  of  baggage  wagons  that  Massa 
chusetts  had  provided  for  the  Tenth  had  to  be  turned  in  to 
the  Quartermaster's  Department  at  Washington  and  the 
twenty-five  wagons,  then  thought  insufficient,  had  now  dwin- 


42  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

died  to  just  four.  What  would  become  of  the  baggage?  The 
fact  that  the  Bay  State  had  equipped  her  early  regiments  with 
wagons  at  all  was  a  source  of  wonder  to  Washington  parties 
and  the  papers  of  the  day  gave  the  statement  a  deal  of  ex 
ploiting.  Evidently  the  Commonwealth  did  not  believe  in 
any  half-way  business. 

The  first  Sunday  in  October,  the  6th  day,  Chaplain  Barton, 
by  request  read  to  the  soldiers  a  sermon  preached  in  North 
ampton  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Eddy,  all  listening  with  evident 
interest.  Company  E  that  night  took  its  turn  in  the  fort, 
marching  out  in  a  drenching  rain,  without  any  shelter.  In 
spection  and  review  in  the  afternoon  had  been  cut  short  by 
rain.  That  religious  sentiment  abounded  in  the  Tenth  appears 
in  the  fact  that  some  of  the  men  had  constructed  a  bower  house 
where  they  met  several  times. during  the  week  for  their  common 
good.  Saturday,  the  12th,  orders  arrived  for  the  Regiment  to 
move  to  "Riverview,"  a  high  point  some  three  miles  from 
Brightwood  to  complete  a  fortification  which  had  been  under 
way  for  some  time.  Four  hundred  men  were  detailed  to  clean 
up  the  camp,  lately  occupied  by  Anderson's  Zouaves  (62d 
New  York)  and  they  had  not  left  it  in  exactly  apple  pie  order. 
Farmers  living  near  said  they  were  glad  the  Zouaves  had 
gone,  evidently  thinking  them  careless  of  the  laws  of  mine  and 
thine.  One  good  lady,  living  near,  said  by  way  of  illustration 
of  the  Zou-Zous  free  and  easy  ways  that  she  frequently  had 
dinner  prepared  for  the  family,  when  a  party  of  those  fellows 
would  come  in,  sit  down  and  eat  the  entire  meal,  and  then  go 
away  without  so  much  as  a  "thank  you."  Possibly  the 
soldiers  thought  they  were  "spoiling  the  Egyptians."  Hardly 
had  the  ground  been  cleaned  up,  the  filth  and  rubbish  burned, 
and  the  place  had  begun  to  take  on  a  habitable  look,  when 
orders  came  for  the  men  to  return  to  camp  at  once  and  pre 
pare  four  days'  rations  for  a  long  march.  They  double-quicked 
back  to  camp,  had  the  rations  in  the  pots,  when  new  orders 
arrived  to  cook  only  one  day's  rations.  Orders  and  counter 
orders  continued  to  come  until  four  o'clock  the  next  morning, 


OCT.  13,  '61  BRIGHTWOOD  43 

the  last  one  saying,  "Let  the  men  go  to  bed  and  wait  further 
orders."     Never  was  command  more  cheerfully  obeyed. 

A  letter  written  on  the  13th  by  Asa  C.  Merrill  of  Com 
pany  H,  later  to  fall  at  Fair  Oaks,  telling  his  grandmother  of 
his  life  in  camp  is  a  realistic  presentation  of  just  how  a  boy  in 
the  ranks  saw  the  passing  scenes : 

Sundays  we  go  out  to  be  inspected,  but  we  do  not  drill. 
Captain  Miller  will  not  allow  any  of  his  men  to  play  cards  on 
Sundays.  *  *  *  There  is  a  meeting  house,  made  of 
branches,  just  outside  of  our  lines  and  two  meetings  a  week 
are  held  in  it.  There  are  reports  around  that  two  men  of  our 
Company  are  to  be  shot  for  sleeping  on  their  posts.  We  had 
not  heard  of  any  one's  sleeping  here.  There  are  reports  that 
we  do  not  live  well.  In  our  tent  there  are  seventeen  men;  we 
have  a  floor  in  it,  and  have  ticks  to  sleep  on.  We  have  enough 
to  eat  and  it  is  a  great  deal  better  than  I  had  expected.  * 
*  *  We  have  to  work  on  the  fort  every  five  days,  we 
work  three  hours  and  it  is  not  very  hard  work.  When  the 
men  go  and  when  they  come  back  they  have  their  whiskey. 
I  have  not  tasted  any  yet. 

An  incident  of  this  same  date,  the  13th,  is  thus  recorded  by 
one  of  the  "boys": 

Lucien  Fogg  (H),  was  on  guard  last  night  at  Fort 
Massachusetts.  The  brigade  officer  came  around  to  try 
Lucien  and  see  if  he  understood  his  duty;  he  gave  the 
wrong  countersign  and  fired  his  pistol  close  to  Lucien, 
when  the  latter  returned  the  compliment  by  firing  his  musket 
at  the  officer's  head,  taking  off  a  shoulder  strap  with  his 
bullet.  It  ought  to  have  taken  his  head  off.  The  officer  was 
Lieut.  Colonel  of  the  36th  New  York,  who  thought  the  guard 
one  of  his  own  men  and  that  his  gun  was  not  loaded. 

The  loth  had  a  record  of  forty  men  in  the  regimental  hospi 
tal  and  seventy-five  more  unable  to  do  duty,  not  a  favorable 
comment  on  the  recent  halcyon  view  of  the  surgeon.  Fatigue 
rations  of  a  gill  of  whiskey  a  day  were  allowed.  Some  of  the 
men,  through  principle,  did  not  take  theirs,  but  the  majority 
walked  up  and  absorbed  the  liquid  without  apparent  scruples. 
New  army  fatigue  caps  in  blue  were  now  worn  by  the  men  in 
place  of  the  hideous  mud-colored  felt  hats  brought  from 
Massachusetts.  On  this  day  the  camp  was  visited  by  Mr- 


44  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Benj.  F.  Bowles  of  Springfield  who  was  visiting  camps  on  both 
sides  of  the  Potomac.  Governor  John  A.  Andrew  honored  the 
Regiment  by  appearing  at  Bright  wood  on  Thursday,  the  17th. 
He  had  come  to  Washington  to  see  about  the  payment  of 
certain  Massachusetts  claims  and  what  more  natural  than  that 
he  should  seek  out  the  accessible  regiments  from  the  Bay 
State.  The  same  day  came  Postmaster  General  Montgomery 
Blair,  the  camp  being  near  his  home.  The  next  day  a  similar 
visit  was  expected  from  President  Lincoln,  but  he  failed  to 
appear,  much  to  the  disappointment  of  the  men  who  had  put 
their  camp  in  perfect  order  for  his  coming.  The  battle  of 
Ball's  Bluff,  some  miles  to  the  northward  on  the  Potomac, 
on  the  21st,  was  a  sad  repetition  of  the  Bull  Run  disaster, 
inflicting  terrible  loss  on  two  Massachusetts  regiments,  the 
15th  and  the  20th. 

A  reminder  of  the  previous  day's  fight  came  to  the  Regiment 
the  22d  in  the  shape  of  orders  to  be  ready  to  march  with  three 
days'  cooked  rations,  but  the  enemy,  again  as  at  Bull  Run, 
did  not  follow  up  his  advantage.  So  the  Tenth  remained  in 
camp  and  there  consumed  the  rations.  An  improvement  in 
the  heating  appliances  of  the  camp  made  its  appearance  in 
some  of  the  tents  through  the  genius  of  some  Yankee  who  dug 
a  hole  in  the  ground  within  the  tent,  having  a  trench  leading 
outside  for  his  smoke  funnel,  with  an  old  barrel  for  a  chimney. 
The  hole  and  the  ditch  were  covered  over  with  stone  save  an 
opening  for  draught.  All  went  well  with  a  roaring  fire  in  the 
hole,  till  the  first  rain  came  down  the  chimney  and  put  the  fire 
out.  Visitors  from  the  Bay  State  were  becoming  somewhat 
frequent,  for  on  the  27th  came  George  Walker,  Esq.,  of 
Springfield  and  Oliver  Warner  of  Northampton,  then  in  the 
fourth  year  of  his  Secretaryship  of  the  Commonwealth,  an 
office  he  was  to  continue  to  hold  till  1876.  The  29th  there 
was  battalion  drill  from  9.00  till  12.00  m.,  and  at  1.30  p.  m. 
all  marched  down  to  Columbia  College  Hospital  where  a 
division  drill  was  conducted  under  the  direction  of  General 
Buell,  not  getting  back  to  camp  until  after  dark.  The  pro 
gramme  of  the  29th  was  repeated  the  following  day. 


Nov.  10,  '61  BRIGHTWOOD  45 

Time  passed  in  an  uneventful  manner,  made  up  of  drill, 
inspections,  reviews  and  fatigue  work  on  the  fort,  yet  all  of 
them  contributing  to  the  well-being  of  the  Regiment.  Novem 
ber,  so  bleak  and  uninviting,  entered  and  on  Sunday,  the 
10th,  came  several  Springfield  gentlemen  just  to  make 
neighborly  calls,  though  Dr.  Wm.  G.  Breck  had  come  to  look 
after  Adjutant  Edwards  who  was  suffering  from  a  serious 
attack  of  typhoid  fever.  Nov.  13th  the  brigade  was  reviewed 
on  the  grounds  of  the  Columbia  College  Hospital  by  Gen.  E.  D. 
Keyes  who  had  succeeded  General  Buell,  Nov.  10th,  in  com 
mand  of  the  division.  The  16th  brought  reminders  of  the 
approach  of  the  first  Thanksgiving  in  camp,  in  that  a  box  came 
from  Spencer  containing  many  articles  of  clothing ;  everybody 
from  that  section  was  happy  since  no  one  was  forgotten,  even 
those  having  no  near  friends  there  being  remembered.  The 
20th  made  Company  I  happy  with  three  huge  boxes  from  the 
home  towns  represented.  Not  only  was  there  clothing  for 
winter,  but  there  was  the  material  for  a  Thanksgiving  dinner; 
forty  turkeys  and  chickens,  a  fifty-pound  cheese  with  all  the 
requisite  fixings  for  just  such  a  dinner  as  the  men  would  have 
had  at  home.  To  the  resulting  dinner  all  the  men  from  the  two 
places  enlisted  in  other  companies,  as  well  as  Company  I  were 
invited,  and  all  could  eat  to  satiety  if  they  wished.  The 
amount  of  clothing,  including  bed  comfortables,  socks,  under 
garments,  etc.,  was  a  witness  to  the  generosity  of  the  folks 
at  home.  One  of  the  boxes  contained  lint,  bandages  and  other 
articles  for  use  in  the  hospitals,  everything  being  useful.  As 
to  the  Thanksgiving  dinner  coming  on  the  21st,  it  would  seem 
that  all  of  the  companies  were  provided  for  by  the  friends  in 
the  North.  Among  other  good  things,  Company  K  had  roast 
beef,  cooked  in  the  kitchen  of  Frank  P.  Blair,  whose  house 
was  to  be  destroyed  by  the  Rebels  in  the  famous  July  attack 
of  1864. 

The  following  letter  indicates  clearly  the  condition  of  affairs 
in  camp  at  this  time,  since  the  date  is  Nov.  26th: 

We  go  to  brigade  drill,  every  day  nearly,  going  in  the  morn' 
ing  down  to  Columbia  College  hospital,  about  four  miles  away 


46  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

We  get  back  about  three  o'clock  and  after  that  drill  no  more 
for  the  day.  If  it  is  cold  enough,  I  wish  you  would  get  a  kit 
of  apple  sauce  and  send  us  as  that  would  go  well  with  dry 
bread  and  no  butter.  We  have  got  one  of  the  best  Regiments 
about  here.  The  peope  all  wish  to  have  us  stay,  and  Mont 
gomery  Blair  is  trying  to  get  us  comfortable  quarters  down 
in  the  city.  I  don't  believe  there  is  a  colonel  around  Wash 
ington  who  is  thought  more  of  by  his  men  than  ours.  He  thinks 
as  much  of  his  Regiment  as  a  father  does  of  a  child.  The 
Saturday  before  Thanksgiving  (16th)  we  were  reviewed  by 
Governor  Andrew  who  is  a  short,  thick  set  man.  Our  General 
Couch  is  a  Massachusetts  man  and  he  thinks  more  of  us  than 
of  any  other  regiment. 

Unconsciously,  the  writer  pays  a  high  tribute  to  the  Gen 
eral  whose  demeanor  towards  his  men  was  such  that,  very 
likely,  each  regiment  thought,  if  it  did  did  not  express,  the 
same  sentiment. 

Another  feature  of  army  life  appeared  in  an  article  in  the 
Springfield  Republican  of  Nov.  27th,  in  which  it  is  shown  that 
sixty  copies  of  the  Tri-Weekly  Republican  and  twenty  copies 
each  of  the  Congregationalist,  Zion's  Herald  and  the  Watch 
man  and  Reflector  had  been  sent  to  the  Regiment  for  three 
months.  Funds  were  then  exhausted  and  circulars  were 
being  sent  throughout  the  four  western  counties  asking  for 
means  to  keep  up  the  good  work ;  the  papers  themselves  were 
forwarded  free  by  the  Adams  Express  Co.  whose  agent,  Geo. 
P.  Geer  of  Springfield,  was  to  receive  contributions.  He  had 
ever  been  a  good  friend  of  the  Regiment.  Is  there  any  record 
of  a  war  where  every  possible  want  of  the  soldiers  was  so 
carefully  provided  for?  On  this  date,  the  27th,  Company  E 
received  a  liberal  donation  of  blankets  from  the  people  of 
Indian  Orchard.  The  month  went  out  "wet,  cold  and 
muddy." 

December  opened  on  Sunday  and  one  of  the  hospital  tents 
being  empty,  religious  services  were  conducted  there  by  the 
Chaplain,  the  meeting  being  exceedingly  interesting;  the 
exercises  concluded  with  a  touching  prayer  by  the  Colonel. 
More  quilts,  blankets  and  comfortables  came  on  the  5th  from 
Springfield,  contributions  of  loyal  friends,  though  forwarded 


DEC.  1,  '61  BRIGHTWOOD  47 

by  Mr.  Edmund  Bigelow,  a  brother  of  Lieut.  Bigelow  of  Com 
pany  F.  Still  further  donations  of  a  similar  character  were 
received  on  the  12th  from  the  Soldiers'  Aid  Society  of  Holyoke, 
the  summary  including  a  wide  range  of  clothing  and  provisions; 
Company  I,  by  this  time  becoming  so  well  provided  that  it 
was  able  to  distribute  some  of  its  excess  with  less  fortunate 
members  of  other  companies.  While  not  specially  interested 
in  the  affairs  of  its  neighbors  one  diarist  notes  a  duel  between 
two  members  of  the  36th  New  York,  in  which  one  was  fatally 
wounded,  dying  the  next  day.  More  home  giving  was  seen 
in  the  receiving,  on  this  day,  of  a  large  quantity  of  blankets 
(195),  comfortables  and  other  articles  for  Company  F.  Many 
items  were  marked  for  particular  individuals,  the  remainder 
were  given  out  to  those  needing  them  most.  The  boxes  were 
made  up  from  the  gifts  of  people  in  Springfield,  West  Spring 
field,  Longmeadow,  Monson,  Feeding  Hills  and  Amherst. 
Special  praise  is  due  to  Mrs.  Justin  Ely  of  West  Springfield, 
Mrs.  Charles  Arthur,  Mrs.  Wm.  Rice,  Mrs.  Josiah  Hooker  and 
the  Soldiers'  Relief  Society  of  Springfield. 

During  December  the  Regiment  applied  itself  diligently  to 
the  building  of  barracks,  it  becoming  quite  evident  that  the 
winter  would  be  spent  in  Bright  wood.  Tents  could  not  keep 
out  the  cold  of  a  Washington  winter  and  more  substantial 
provision  was  made.  Subscriptions  were  taken  up  among  the 
officers  and  men  for  the  purchase  of  boards  and  nails  for  roofs, 
bunks,  etc.,  and  all  the  expense  was  borne  by  the  men  from 
their  scanty  pay,  as  well  as  for  the  small  stoves  that  were  to 
heat  the  interiors.  Some  part  of  the  outlay  came  out  of  the 
respective  company  funds.  Some  companies  had  one  long 
structure  for  the  entire  membership;  others  built  a  number 
of  smaller  huts,  equal  to  the  needs  of  the  men  occupying  them. 
The  body  of  the  structures  was  made  in  real  pioneer  log-house 
style,  the  material  being  for  the  most  part  cottonwood,  the 
same  being  easily  cut  or  split.  Where  there  were  so  many  to 
work  the  progress  was  rapid,  and  when  done,  all  felt  quite 
comfortably  housed  for  the  winter,  though  there  exists  such 
a  record  as  this,  "  Our  barracks  fell  down  today,  when  we  had 


48  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

got  them  nearly  done.  Several  of  the  boys  were  bruised,  but 
no  one  was  seriously  hurt . ' '  The  roofs  were  covered  with  tarred 
paper.  Some  of  the  officers  built  ten  by  twelve  huts  back 


m 


WINTER  QUARTERS,  BRIGHTWOOD.     NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS,  CO.  F. 
Pencil  Sketch  by  Corp.  L.  F.  Babcock. 

of  the  tents  and  several  had  the  company  of  their  respective 
wives  during  the  winter.  Among  these  ladies  were  Mesdames 
Briggs,  Marsh,  Parsons,  Barton,  Day,  Walkley,  Lombard, 
Ives,  Newell,  Traver,  Pierce,  Shurtleff,  Keith  and  Remington. 
Surgeon  Chamberlain,  Dec.  26th,  gave  publicity  through 
the  Springfield  Republican  to  his  acknowledgments  for  the 
many  favors  received  by  the  Regiment  for  the  care  of  the  sick, 
those  thanked  residing  in  many  of  the  considerable  towns  and 
the  only  city  in  the  sections  furnishing  the  soldiers.  At  the 
same  time  he  stated  that  the  health  of  the  Regiment  was  excel 
lent,  better  than  might  be  expected  considering  the  variable 
character  of  the  climate .  Mention  was  made  of  the  fall  epidemic 
of  fever  and  the  report  of  Surgeons  Charles  O'Leary  (Brigade), 
S.  A.  Holman  (7th  Mass.),  and  N.  R.  Moseley  (36th  N.  Y.), 
concerning  the  same,  dated  Oct.  8th,  was  appended  in  which 
these  officers  ascribed  the  trouble  to  the  former  epidemic  of 
measles,  the  wet,  marshy  places  of  encampment,  both  in 
Massachusetts  and  near  Washington,  and  to  climatic  changes 
from  the  elevated  regions  of  Western  Massachusetts  to  the 


JAN.  2,  '62  BRIGHTWOOD  49 

much  lower  one  of  the  coast.  They  gave  all  praise  to  Surgeon 
Chamberlain  and  Assistant  Surgeon  Holbrook  for  the  efficient 
manner  in  which  they  had  performed  their  respective  duties. 

1862 

January  2d  the  startling  news  was  heard  that  the  regimental 
hospital  had  a  genuine  case  of  small  pox,  and  much  anxiety 
was  had  lest  the  disease  spread.  The  victim  was  Henry  M. 
Hunt  of  Company  F,  no  one  knowing  the  source  of  his  infection. 
He  was  removed  to  the  hospital  for  contagious  diseases  where 
he  died  Jan.  6th;  very  much  liked  by  his  comrades,  his  death 
was  appropriately  noticed  by  the  Springfield  Republican  of 
the  llth.  His  case  was  the  only  one,  but  there  was  a  time  of 
general  vaccination,  the  companies  marching  up  to  the  sur 
geons  with  bared  arms  and  receiving  their  quantum  of  virus 
in  a  manner  more  or  less  willing.  About  three  hours  were 
employed  in  disposing  of  the  whole  regiment,  or  one  thousand 
men,  but  the  sore  arms  were  in  evidence  for  long  weeks  after 
wards.  No  exceptions  were  made,  men  taking  their  respective 
portions  who  had  passed  through  well  authenticated  courses 
of  the  disease.  No  subsequent  case  ever  appeared  in  the  Tenth. 

Dated  Jan.  8,  '62,  a  letter  was  written  in  Brightwood  for  home 
reading  and  it  is  quite  appropriately  inserted  in  this  con 
nection  : 

We  are  in  our  houses  now.  They  are  quite  comfortable 
and  convenient,  though  we  had  to  buy  all  of  the  lumber.  Our 
hut  is  18  by  12  feet,  with  three  rows  (tiers)  of  bunks;  they  are 
intended  to  accommodate  eighteen  men.  In  our  hut  we  have 
a  stove  with  oven,  kettle,  etc.  We  have  not  been  paid  off 
yet,  though  it  is  time,  since  we  sent  in  our  rolls  first  of  any  regi 
ment  this  side  of  the  river.  When  my  box  got  here,  about  a 
month  ago,  there  was  a  great  clamor  and  much  laughter  heard 
in  our  section.  I  don't  believe  I  could  have  put  up  so  good 
an  assortment  if  I  had  been  at  home  myself.  All  the  boys 
thought  those  pies  the  only  ones  they  had  seen  since  leaving 
Massachusetts.  The  box  came  just  in  time,  for  we  were  all 
out  of  money  and  were  living  on  mouldy  hard  bread.  That 
shawl  was  just  the  thing  for  guard.  The  boys  get  it  every 
night  when  they  go  on  guard.  Colonel  Briggs  got  back  last 


50  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

night,  and  just  as  soon  as  dress  parade  was  over,  before  we 
had  had  time  to  take  off  our  equipments  he  was  with  us, 
wanting  to  know  how  we  were.  He  came  to  us  first  because 
our  quarters  come  first  in  the  first  company.  He  went  through 
all  the  companies  in  like  manner.  All  cheered  him,  and  we 
were  as  glad  to  see  him  as  if  he  had  been  one  of  our  own  folks. 
I  believe  we  have  the  best  Colonel  in  the  army  and  we  cer 
tainly  have  the  best  Captain  in  the  Regiment.  ~Not  a  man 
from  our  Company  (H)  has  been  in  the  guardhouse  yet,  the 
only  company  that  can  truthfully  say  it.  The  Colonel's  wife 
was  here  a  short  time  ago.  She  is  as  good,  motherly  looking 
a  woman  as  one  needs  to  see.  She  was  in  the  hospital  nearly 
all  the  time,  caring  for  the  men.  *  *  *  We  do 
not  drill  much  now,  it  is  so  slippery.  We  have  a  miserable 
guard  tent  but  a  better  one  is  to  be  put  up  today.  I  am 
reading  the  Bible  in  course,  three  chapters  of  the  Old  and  as 
many  of  the  New  Testament  each  day.  Sometimes  I  should 
like  to  see  your  old  Scott's  Bible. 

The  return  of  Colonel  Briggs,  mentioned  in  the  letter,  was 
his  coming  back  to  the  Regiment  from  memorial  services,  held 
some  time  after  his  father's  death.  His  reception  by  the  men 
must  have  been  exceedingly  cheering  to  him.  Records  of  these 
January  days  emphasize  the  prevalence  and  the  depth  of  the 
mud,  that  "on  the  parade  ground  being  from  four  to  five 
inches  deep."  Certain  Spencer  people  were  visiting  their 
friends  in  camp,  Messrs.  J.  S.  Bullard,  J.  F.  Ward  and  R.  A. 
Sibley,  and  those  visited  remarked  on  their  muddy  reception, 
but  the  men  cheered  up  over  the  expectation  of  a  dinner  to  be 
prepared  by  the  Captain's  wife,  Mrs.  Walkley.  The  13th  was 
also  the  date  of  the  resignation  of  Assistant  Surgeon  Holbrook, 
to  become  Surgeon  of  the  18th  Mass.  The  paymaster,  long 
expected,  came  on  the  13th  and  gladdened  everybody's  heart 
with  two  months'  pay,  this  time  in  treasury  notes  instead  of 
gold,  stating  that  specie  had  become  very  scarce,  a  foretaste 
of  the  metallic  famine  to  prevail  for  so  many  years.  Another 
northern  visitor  came  Jan.  18th,  this  time  to  Company  B,  in 
the  person  of  that  Company's  special  patron  and  friend, 
Sylvander  Johnson  of  North  Adams.  He  had  an  ovation  on 
arriving  and  a  supper,  served  in  one  of  the  hospital  tents.  His 


FEB.  6,  '62  BRIGHTWOOD  51 

impressions  of  camp  fare  are  not  recorded.  The  remaining 
items  for  January,  important  or  otherwise,  are  written  in  mud, 
so  characteristic  of  the  District  of  Columbia  at  that  time. 

February  afforded  no  particular  change  in  local  conditions 
from  those  of  the  preceding  month,  but  it  was  noteworthy  on 
account  of  a  sad  affair  happening  on  the  6th  in  the  discharge 
of  guard  duty.  Lewis  C.  Carter,  a  private  of  Company  K, 
on  duty  with  the  provost  guard,  was  stationed  with  his  com 
rades  along  the  road  to  Washington.  Such  guards  were  placed 
every  half  mile,  all  the  way  from  the  camps  to  the  city.  It 
was  the  duty  of  the  guard  to  stop  every  soldier  without  a  pass 
whether  going  or  coming.  On  this  morning  about  ten  o'clock 
a  member  of  Company  D,  7th  Mass.,  attempted  to  run  the 
guard  on  his  way  back  to  camp.  Having  been  ordered  to 
halt  by  Carter  and  disregarding  the  summons,  the  guard  fired 
with  excellent  aim,  the  ball  striking  the  man  in  the  left  side 
and  coming  out  of  his  back.  The  soldier  was  not  killed  and 
the  surgeon  said  he  would  recover  with  proper  care,  but  the 
affair  created  considerable  feeling  between  the  two  regiments, 
though  the  guard  was  undoubtedly  performing  his  duty. 
Hutchinson,  the  historian  of  the  Seventh,  does  not  mention 
the  incident.*  The  10th  had  regimental  note  in  that  then  Dr. 
Geo.  J.  Jewett  of  Fitchburg  arrived  to  take  the  place  of  Assist 
ant  Surgeon  Holbrook  who  went  as  Surgeon,  rank  of  Major, 
to  the  18th  Mass.,  Colonel  James  Barnes  of  Springfield  com 
manding.  It  is  just  possible  that  the  proximity  of  Palmer  and 
Springfield  may  have  had  something  to  do  with  the  promotion. 


*The  following  letter  from  Lieut.  James  E.  Seaver  of  Taunton,  is 
interesting  in  the  above  connection: 

"The  soldier  who  was  wounded  was  James  D.  Mitchel,  and  he  died 
from  his  wound  at  his  home  in  Taunton,  April  — ,  '62.  I  recall  the 
affair  very  well;  saw  Mitchell  when  brought  into  camp,  as  at  that 
time  I  wras  a  sergeant  of  the  Company.  He  had  left  camp  without 
leave,  and  made  a  visit  to  Washington;  at  that  time  our  camp  was  at 
the  junction  of  Seventh  and  Fourteenth  streets  at  Brightwood,  some 
half  a  mile  from  the  toll-gate.  He  evaded  the  guard  going,  but  was 
not  so  fortunate  in  returning  and,  when  challenged  by  the  sentinel, 
ran  and  was  shot."  A  sad  ending  for  a  life  that  had  seen  only  twenty 
years. 


FEB.  14,  '62  BRIGHTWOOD  53 

At  any  rate,  all  were  glad  of  the  Doctor's  advance,  though 
sorry  to  lose  him,  since  he  had  been  a  faithful  and  efficient 
officer. 

The  presence  of  officers'  wives  in  the  camp  brought  gladness 
to  the  hearts  of  Company  G  men  about  this  time,  when  Mrs. 
Captain  Day  and  Mrs.  Lieut.  Remington  volunteered  to  go 
to  the  cook  house  and  fry  cakes  for  the  men.  What  New 
England  soldier's  appetite  would  not  get  on  edge  at  the  thought ! 
The  boys  declared  the  only  trouble  with  the  affair  was,  it 
made  them  homesick.  As  the  full  Government  rations  were 
more  than  the  men  would  regularly  eat,  it  was  deemed  proper 
to  establish  a  company  fund  to  be  accumulated  from  the  selling 
of  rations,  not  drawn,  or  rather  receiving  in  money  their 
cash  value.  In  this  manner,  some  companies  were  able  to 
supply  items  such  as  pepper,  blacking,  etc.,  not  supplied  by 
the  Government.  Not  until  the  14th  did  the  glorious  news 
from  Roanoke  reach  the  Tenth.  It  was  really  almost  the  only 
ray  of  sunshine  thus  far  gleaming  through  the  cloud-covered 
disunion  skies.  The  band  tuned  up  with  "Hail  Columbia," 
"  Red,  White  and  Blue  "  and  "Yankee  Doodle,"  while  the  men 
held  jubilation  meetings  all  over  the  parade  ground.  Still 
there  was  a  drop  of  bitterness  in  this  cup  of  victory  for  some, 
since  Sargent  of  Company  K  records  the  fact  that  his  father 
had  been  killed  on  the  8th,  while  pressing  forward  with  the 
21st  Mass.  His  heart  pangs  were  those  of  many  a  loyal  soul 
in  those  trying  days. 

Just  after  guard  mount,  the  15th,  every  man  on  duty 
belonging  to  the  Regiment  was  ordered  into  line,  naturally 
exciting  no  little  remark  among  the  men  as  they  hastily 
obeyed,  some  thinking  that  the  alleged  request  of  General 
Buell  that  his  favorite  division  might  be  sent  to  him  in  the 
west,  was  about  to  be  announced.  Battalion  line  was  first 
formed  and  then  the  hollow  square,  when  Colonel  Briggs  read 
an  order  from  headquarters  calling  for  volunteers  for  the 
western  gunboat  service.  That  humanity  welcomes  a  change, 
no  matter  what  it  is,  was  apparent  as  more  than  two  hundred 
men  expressed  a  desire  to  be  thus  transferred.  As,  however, 


54  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

the  announcement  followed  that  only  ten  men  could  be  taken 
from  any  one  Regiment  and  that  all  must  be  good  sailors  the 
contingent  dwindled  to  just  nine  men,  as  follows;  Wm.  Levy 
(A),  Corp.  Nathan  O.  Blinn  and  John  Boyle  (B),  Frank  Boise 
(C),  John  H.  Ross  (D),  Benj.  F.  Brady  (F),  Peter  Bard  (H), 
Joseph  A.  Winn  (I),  Henry  L.  Copley  (K).  This  detachment 
left  the  next  morning  for  their  new  scene  of  service  in  the  west, 
their  subsequent  career  being  summarized  in  the  rosters  of 
the  several  companies.  Their  going  away  from  their  com 
rades  was  not  without  its  affecting  features.  It  was  six  weeks 
from  pay  day  and  the  men  were  penniless,  though  otherwise 
they  had  a  proper  outfit.  Learning  their  impecunious  condi 
tion,  the  Colonel  passed  over  a  ten  dollar  bill  to  Corporal  Blinn, 
telling  him  to  use  it  as  needed.  After  a  hearty  handshake  all 
round,  the  sailor  lads  departed,  giving  three  cheers  for  Colonel 
Briggs  as  they  went. 

Lieut.  Col.  Decker  was  the  first  to  bring  to  camp  the  news 
of  the  taking  of  Fort  Donelson  by  General  Grant,  on  the  16th. 
Being  in  the  Senate  gallery  he  had  heard  the  glorious  tidings 
as  announced  to  the  Senate.  As  after  Roanoke,  enthusiasm 
again  broke  loose  and  with  the  band  and  cheers  from  the  men, 
the  welkin  was  made  to  ring.  New  uniforms  were  given  out, 
dark  blue  frock  coats  with  light  blue  trousers  and  overcoats, 
thus  reaching  about  what  was  generally  worn  later,  though 
for  field  service,  the  frock  coat  gave  place  to  the  blouse.  The 
news  from  Donelson  was  reaffirmed  the  18th,  when,  in  the 
morning,  regimental  line  was  formed  and  a  general  order 
from  brigade  headquarters  was  read  announcing  the  fact,  with 
further  statement  that  15,000  men  in  arms  had  been  captured- 
Three  cheers  were  given  by  the  men  and  a  salute  of  thirty- 
four  guns  was  fired  from  Fort  Massachusetts.  Washington's 
Birthday  was  observed  fittingly  by  the  Tenth.  The  morning 
breeze  brought  from  the  camp  of  the  2d  Rhode  Island  the 
strains  of  their  excellent  band;  dress  parade  came  at  9.30 
a.  m.  with  the  reading  of  Washington's  Farewell  Address 
though  the  weather  was  stormy.  After  dismissal,  the  remain 
der  of  the  day  was  given  to  target  practice  with  a  prize  of  ten 


FEB.  23,  '62  BRIGHTWOOD  55 

dollars  offered  to  the  best  regimental  shot  and  others  of  five 
dollars  each  to  the  best  shot  in  the  several  companies. 

Illustrative  of  the  buoyancy  excited  by  the  victories  at 
Roanoke  and  Donelson,  as  well  as  the  nearby  capture  of  Fort 
Henry,  the  following  letter  is  inserted,  the  same  bearing  date 
Feb.  23,  1862: 

All  the  talk  is  now  over  going  home ;  many  think  we  will 
be  home  by  the  Fourth  of  July.  I  think  we  will  see  all  of  the 
fighting  done  in  a  few  months.  I  hope  so.  This  war  is  costing 
us  two  or  three  millions  a  day,  of  which  not  more  than  $500,000 
will  be  paid  as  we  go,  thus  leaving  the  Nation  horribly  in  debt. 
Nearly  all  hope  of  going  off  this  ground  has  died  out;  it  is 
impossible  for  us  to  move  now  on  account  of  the  mud  which 
is  about  six  inches  deep.  Tonight  (Sunday)  we  were  formed 
in  hollow  square  when  the  chaplain  prayed  and  the  band 
played  "Old  Hundred." 

How  fortunate  it  is  that  "Heaven  from  all  creatures  hides 
the  Book  of  Fate,"  else  how  unhappy  these  young  soldiers 
would  have  been!  There  was  not  a  month  during  the  long 
four  years,  when  some  optimistic  fellow  was  not  singing  the 
changes  on,  "We're  going  home;  we're  going  home,"  and, 
deluded  though  he  was,  he  did  a  world  of  good  in  keeping 
alive  the  spark  of  hope,  only  faintly  glimmering  in  some  poor 
breasts. 

"So  near  and  yet  so  far"  was  well  illustrated  the  27th,  when 
at  4.50  p.  m.  on  the  formation  of  regimental  line,  an  order 
from  General  Keyes  was  read  ordering  the  Tenth  to  report  at 
the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  depot  the  next  day,  line  to  be  formed 
at  2.00  a.  m.  and  to  be  in  the  city  on  or  before  6.00  o'clock; 
each  man  to  carry  one  hundred  rounds  of  ball  cartridges, 
forty  in  his  cartridge  box  and  sixty  in  his  knapsack;  one 
blanket,  one  change  of  clothing,  one  extra  pair  of  shoes  and 
four  days'  rations.  Preparations  were  well  advanced  for  the 
early  start  when  at  8.00  p.  m.,  the  orders  were  countermanded. 
The  making  and  unmaking  of  orders  began  early  in  the  war 
and  never  ceased;  for  that  matter,  'twas  ever  thus. 

While  everyone  knew  well  that  the  war  was  begun  for  the 
preservation  of  the  Union,  all  were  equally  aware  that  it  could 


56  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

not  continue  a  very  great  while  without  trouble  over  the  slavery 
question.  These  soldiers  from  Massachusetts  were  not  in 
clined  to  do  any  great  number  of  favors  for  the  slave  holders 
of  Maryland  and  Virginia.  Some  months  before  General 
Butler  had  declared  the  negro  "contraband  of  war,"  a  dictum 
the  average  soldier  thought  pretty  good  gospel.  Other  regi 
ments  had  resented,  in  unequivocal  terms,  the  proposition 
that  they  should  turn  slave  catchers,  and  liberty-loving  men 
from  Western  Massachusetts  could  hardly  be  expected  to 
prove  exceptions  to  the  general  attitude  of  the  Commonwealth. 
February,  '62  was  several  months  before  President  Lincoln 
issued  his  Emancipation  Proclamation,  but  these  soldiers  had 
notions  of  their  own  as  to  what  treatment  was  due  the  slave 
hunter  as  well  as  the  reception  they  should  accord  the  escaping 
bondman.  Inevitably  the  runaway  slaves  appeared  in  the 
Brightwood  camp  and  coming  as  they  did  from  the  plantations 
of  people  the  greater  part  of  whom  were  out-and-out  "  secesh," 
the  "boys"  did  not  view  their  forced  return  with  any  great 
degree  of  complacency.  Such  were  the  conditions  that  gave 
rise  to  a  very  entertaining  episode  in  regimental  life. 

The  Raid  into  Maryland  came  about  in  this  way:  Saturday 
afternoon,  March  1st,  while  the  Regiment  was  on  dress  parade, 
six  Marylanders  came  into  camp  after  some  negroes  who  were 
cooking  and  washing  for  the  soldiers.  About  the  story  there 
is  a  deal  of  hearsay,  but  it  was  reported  that  Colonel  Briggs 
had  told  the  nominal  owner  to  "Take  his  nigger  if  he  could 
get  him."  Be  this  as  it  may,  some  of  the  men  who  were  off 
duty,  and  suspecting  the  errand  of  the  natives,  followed  them 
to  a  cook  house  where  was  employed  a  negro  whom  one  of  the 
men  claimed  as  his  property.  On  being  asked  if  he  belonged 
to  the  man,  the  negro  replied,  "I  did  once,  but  I  b'long  to 
myself  now."  So  the  slave  catcher  was  told  that  if  the  negro 
wanted  to  go  with  him,  he  might,  otherwise  not.  A  ring  having 
been  formed,  the  fun-loving  soldiers  gave  the  contraband  a 
chance  to  talk  to  his  "Ole  Mas'r"  in  a  manner  he  never 
enjoyed  before.  He  rehearsed  some  of  the  alleged  utterances 
of  the  master  when  the  Baltimore  fight  of  April  19th  took 


MAR.  1,  '62  NOLAN'S  RAID  57 

place,  clearly^proving  the  white  man  a  thorough  Rebel.  It 
did  not  help  his  cause  when  the  ex-slave  accused  him  of  calling 
Massachusetts  soldiers  released  convicts. 

No  part  of  the  negro's  story  was  denied  and  when  the  parade 
was  dismissed  and  the  other  boys  came  flocking  round,  the 
six  men  betook  themselves  up  the  river,  without  obtaining  any 
part  of  their  alleged  property.  No  one  who  knows  has  ever 
told  just  how  the  scheme  was  devised.  Perhaps  like  Topsy, 
it  "  Jes'  grow'd."  At  any  rate  the  next  step  in  the  story  was 
taken  at  about  8.30  that  evening,  when  an  officer  of  Company 
I,  having  occasion  to  visit  the  quarters  of  his  men,  found  some 
of  them  missing.  The  Captain  having  been  notified  a  roll  call 
was  ordered,  when  it  appeared  that  forty-seven  men  were  not 
accounted  for.  A  like  course  in  the  other  companies,  produced 
similar  results.  It  appeared  that  many  of  the  soldiers  thought 
it  would  be  a  good  idea  to  administer  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
some  of  the  arrogant  planters  of  Maryland  and,  accordginly, 
after  roll  call  eight  different  squads  took  their  guns  and  equip 
ments  and  started  due  north.  After  marching  about  eight 
miles  northward,  they  came  to  the  home  of  Nolan,  the  slave 
owner  who  had  been  in  the  camp  in  the  afternoon,  having  had 
their  road  pointed  out  by  "George,"  the  individual  who  had 
revealed  some  of  the  language  of  Nolan.  On  reaching  the 
house,  some  of  the  boys  and  one  of  the  negroes  went  in. 
Whereupon,  Mrs.  Nolan,  mother  of  the  claimant,  stepped  up 
and  laying  her  hand  on  the  negro  said,  "This  is  my  property." 
Again  came  back  the  words,  "Yes,  Missus,  I  was  once,  but 
I  own  myself  now."  Whereupon,  greatly  angered,  Madam 
Nolan,  doubling  her  fist,  struck  the  negro  full  in  the  face. 
By  this  time  the  house  was  full  of  the  soldiers  and  their 
accompanying  guides  and  before  they  left  they  had  compelled 
the  Nolans,  on  bended  knee,  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
the  United  States. 

While  this  drama  was  being  played  in  the  house,  the  boys 
outside  were  by  no  means  idle,  and  whatever  was  not  nailed 
down  and  could  be  conveniently  carried  off  was  taken  posses 
sion  of.  Nor  did  the  raiders  confine  their  attentions  to  the 


58  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Nolans  alone.  They  assumed  that  there  were  other  disloyal 
farmers  along  the  way  so  that  many  feathered  trophies  made 
their  way  into  camp  that  night  in  spite  of  vicissitudes.  As 
usual,  the  retreat  was  much  more  difficult  than  the  advance, 
for  the  officers  soon  learning  the  route  taken  by  the  raiders, 
took  immediate  steps  to  intercept  them  on  their  return. 
Company  D,  under  Captain  Clapp,  acting  as  camp  picket,  was 
thrown  out  half  a  mile  from  camp  and  formed  a  line  across 
the  road  and  through  the  woods,  spreading  themselves  out 
so  as  to  catch  the  runaways  on  their  return.  As  soon  as  they 
were  caught,  they  were  disarmed,  their  names  taken  (all  sorts 
of  names,  except  the  true  ones  were  given),  and  they  were 
sent  to  their  quarters  after  a  reprimand  by  the  Colonel. 
Doubtless  their  punishment  would  have  been  severe  had  not 
the  immediate  exigencies  of  the  campaign  demanded  the 
services  of  every  man,  there  being  no  time,  even  if  there  was 
a  disposition  to  punish  the  men  for  an  excess  of  zeal  in  dealing 
with  a  confessed  hater  of  the  flag.  Some  of  the  men  succeeded 
in  running  the  guard  on  getting  back  to  camp,  and  it  is  told 
by  them  to  this  day,  that  certain  of  that  night's  plunder 
graced  the  tables  of  officers,  for  they  were  not  supposed  to  know 
the  origin  of  all  that  they  received  and  if  they  did  suspect, 
after  all,  they  were  just  as  human  as  their  men.  It  is  recorded 
that  some  one  had  to  pay  $1,900.00  for  that  night's  fun.* 

The  5th  is  firmly  fixed  in  memory  for  then  came  the  orders 
to  be  in  readiness  to  move  at  any  moment.  The  oft  repeated 
directions  as  to  cartridges,  rations,  etc.,  were  heard  and  the 
wonder  arose  if  anything  would  come  of  this.  Men  practiced 
in  firing  with  knapsacks  on;  each  one  of  the  latter  had  been 
marked  in  white  paint  with  the  number  of  the  regiment  and 


*More  than  forty  years  later,  or  in  the  winter  of  1903  and  4,  Wm. 
H.  Adams,  "G,"  was  engaged  in  putting  in  niter  beds  for  the  city  of 
Washington.  A  number  of  carpenters  were  employed,  among  them 
one  Samuel  Nolan.  The  name  recalled  "Nolan's  "Raid"  to  Adams 
who  was  one  of  the  "  patriots"  in  that  memorable  event  and,  making 
inquiries,  he  learned  that  his  carpenter  was  a  brother  of  the  Maryland 
planter,  so  summarily  "encouraged"  in  loyalty,  and  he  even  intimated 
that  his  brother  got  no  more  than  was  his  due  on  that  occasion.  In 
vited  to  Nolan's  home,  Adams  repeatedly  enjoyed  his  hospitality. 


MAR.  10,  '62  PENINSULAR  CAMPAIGN  59 

the  letter  of  the  company.  This  day,  also,  the  Colonel  read 
an  order  from  headquarters  that  every  contraband  should  be 
driven  from  the  camp,  the  same  occasioning  considerable 
excitement  among  both  officers  and  men.  Some  one,  mis 
chievously  inclined,  had  posted  in  a  prominent  place  a  placard 
threatening  mutiny  if  the  order  were  obeyed.  Until  the  10th 
there  was  a  deal  of  drilling  with  knapsacks  on  and  exercise 
in  the  manual  of  arms. 

It  was  Monday  morning,  the  10th,  soon  after  midnight, 
when  the  Adjutant  awoke  the  officers  and  informed  them  of 
the  orders  to  be  ready  to  march  in  light  order  at  daybreak. 
Line  was  formed  at  7.00  a.  m.,  and  with  three  cheers  for  the 
old  camp  at  Brightwood,  the  order  to  march  was  heard  and 
the  Regiment  started  for  Chain  Bridge,  one  of  the  famous  ways 
across  the  Potomac,  with  the  expectations  of  uniting  with  the 
brigades  of  Peck  (2d)  and  Graham  (1st),  but  through  some 
error  they  had  gone  on.  The  river  was  passed  and  the  Regi 
ment  struggled  up  the  slope  with  Fort  Marcy  at  the  right  and 
Ethan  Allen  at  the  left,  both  with  guns  trained  upon  the 
approaches  of  the  bridge.  Everything  combustible  had  been 
swept  clear  by  the  army,  except  now  and  then  a  dwelling,  this 
being  of  a  very  poor  class.  Three  miles  from  the  bridge  the 
village  of  Langley  was  passed,  the  route  being  southerly, 
passing  the  deserted  camps  of  the  Union  soldiers  who  had 
gone  on  ahead.  At  Prospect  Hill,  the  Manassas  and  Leesburg 
turnpikes  intersect  and  here  at  5.00  p.  m.  the  Regiment  halted, 
being  about  twelve  miles  from  Brightwood,  and  here  were 
found  the  missing  brigades  with  the  artillery  and  cavalry  of 
Keyes's  division. 

PENINSULAR  CAMPAIGN 

Though  the  active  participants  knew  it  not  they  were  taking 
preliminary  steps  in  the  first  great  movement  against  Rich 
mond,  if  the  unfortunate  affair  of  the  first  Bull  Run  be  ex- 
cepted.  Wearied  by  the  prolonged  waiting  of  McClellan,  his 
ever  insisting  on  increased  armament,  his  continuous  organ 
izing,  President  Lincoln,  Jan.  27th,  had  issued  an  order  com- 


60  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

manding  a  general  advance  upon  the  enemy  from  every  quar 
ter  on  the  22d  of  February.  Four  days  later  a  Special  Order  was 
issued  directing  General  McClellan,  before  the  22d,  to  "impel 
all  the  disposable  portion  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  for 
the  purpose  of  seizing  and  holding  a  point  upon  the  railroad 
south-westward  of  what  is  known  as  Manassas  Junction." 
Though  signed  by  the  President,  the  orders  bore  unmistak 
able  indications  of  the  presence  in  the  War  Department  of 
Edwin  M.  Stanton  who  had  succeeded,  as  War  Secretary, 
Simon  Cameron  of  Pennsylvania.  The  President  on  the  8th 
of  March  issued  his  second  Special  Order  dividing  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  into  four  corps  with  the  troops  on  the  upper 
Potomac  constituting  a  fifth,  General  N.  P.  Banks  of  Massa 
chusetts  in  command.  General  McClellan's  original  plan  had 
been  to  move  towards  Richmond  from  the  lower  Rappahan- 
nock,  landing  at  Urbana,  a  day's  march  from  West  Point,  a 
course  which  would  leave  the  enemy  free  to  assail  Washington, 
from  the  start  his  most  coveted  prey.  The  President  did  not 
fancy  this  exposure  and  several  communications  passed 
between  the  President  and  his  General-in-Chief.  However, 
after  receiving  indubitable  proof  that  the  enemy  had  evacuated 
Manassas,  March  8th,  though  still  purposing  to  advance  by  a 
route  from  the  southeast,  he  gave  the  order  to  march  into 
Virginia,  as  he  said,  for  "an  opportunity  to  gain  some  experi 
ence  on  the  march  and  bivouac,  preparatory  to  the  campaign, 
and  to  get  rid  of  the  superfluous  baggage  and  other  'impedi 
menta  '  which  accumulate  so  easily  around  an  army  encamped 
a  long  time  in  one  locality."  It  was  on  the  very  next  day 
after  that  in  which  the  brigade  found  itself  marching  into 
Virginia,  that  the  President  relieved  McClellan  of  his  general 
supervision  and  restricted  his  duties  to  those  of  commanding 
the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Two  days  later  or  the  13th,  at  a 
council  of  his  generals,  held  at  Fairfax  Court  House,  it  was 
decided  to  debark  the  army  at  Old  Point  Comfort  and  thence 
proceed  up  the  Peninsula. 

In  the  foregoing  scheme,  the  Tenth  Massachusetts  was  a 
mere  pawn  on  McClellan's  chess  board.    Presumably  it  gained 


MAR.  11,  '62  LEWINSVILLE  61 

its  share  of  inarching  and  bivouacking  experience,  and  no 
doubt  shed  enough  of  its  superfluous  "impedimenta  "  to  satisfy 
the  expectations  of  the  General.  Superfluous  or  otherwise,  the 
men  were  certainly  carrying  a  deal  of  baggage  and  heavy  bur 
dens  of  ammunition,  but  no  more  than  the  orders  called  for. 
The  night  was  cold  and  raw  but  fatigue  made  slumber  sweet 
until  midnight  when  a  heavy  rain  dispelled  all  thoughts  of 
sleep  and  made  every  one  wish  for  the  morning.  It  came  at 
last,  ushering  in  the  llth,  clear  and  cold,  all  awaiting  orders 
which  failed  to  come.  Observing  men  noted  the  desolation 
wrought  by  armed  camps  whether  those  of  friend  or  foe. 
Lewinsville  was  deserted,  save  for  a  single  house  and  there 
was  difficulty  in  finding  material  to  help  out  their  scant  pro 
vision  for  shelter.  The  camp  was  near  the  house  belonging 
to  Catesby  A.  R.  Jones,  once  a  Lieutenant  in  our  Navy,  but 
now  in  the  Confederate  service,  who  commanded  the  Merri- 
mac  in  her  second  day's  fight  with  the  Monitor.  The  mansion 
was  deserted  in  a  hurry,  apparently,  and  Yankee  boys  exer 
cised  their  proverbial  curiosity  in  examining  its  contents. 
This  family  of  Joneses  had  long  been  famous  in  Virginian 
history,  Thomas  Catesby  Jones  having  won  distinction  as  a 
naval  officer  in  the  War  of  1812,  dying  in  1858.  It  was  said 
that  two  sons  of  the  long  named  officer  were  also  in  the  Rebel 
service.  At  any  rate  if  the  family  papers  contained  any 
secrets  they  would  certainly  be  revealed  in  the  overhauling 
then  received.  The  ruins  of  a  near-by  dwelling  afforded 
excellent  facilities,  especially  the  sentinel-like  chimneys,  for 
the  cooking  exploits  of  the  soldiers. 

The  men  in  the  Regiment  did  not  know  of  the  enemy's 
retirement  from  Manassas  until  the  12th,  when  the  news  was 
disseminated.  Evidently  Joe  Johnston,  successor  to  Beaure- 
gard  who  had  gone  to  the  western  army,  had  suspected  the 
plans  of  McClellan  and  governed  himself  accordingly.  Many 
of  the  prominent  officers  were  of  the  opinion  that,  at  no  time, 
had  there  been  a  force  in  Manassas,  which  could  have  with 
stood  McClellan  had  he  chosen  to  advance.  General  Keyes 
was  ordered  to  Washington,  and  as  General  Couch  took  com- 


62  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

mand  of  the  Division,  Colonel  Briggs  for  the  nonce  was  at 
the  head  of  the  brigade.  The  13th  dawned  cold,  raw  and 
drizzly  and  without  tents  and  rubber  blankets  the  men  were 
not  enjoying  their  trip  to  Virginia,  nor  were  they  conscious 
of  any  great  amount  of  "superfluous"  clothing.  As  General 
Keyes  became  the  Commander  of  the  entire  Corps  (Fourth), 
General  Couch  went  to  the  head  of  the  division  (First)  and 
Colonel  Briggs  remained  over  the  brigade  (Third).  At  6.00 
p.  m.  orders  were  received  to  march  in  the  morning  to  Chain 
Bridge  and  there  await  further  orders.  Agreeable  to  the  direc 
tion  of  the  night  before,  the  Regiment  marched  to  the  bridge 
on  the  14th,  reaching  it  about  noon  and  halted  under  the  guns 
of  Fort  Marcy.  At  5.00  in  the  afternoon  we  made  our  bivouac 
in  the  ravines  and  under  the  pines  below  the  fort,  where  some 
degree  of  rest  might  have  been  had  were  it  not  for  the  rain 
which  soon  began  and  continued  all  night. 

Saturday,  the  15th,  brought  no  relief;  if  possible,  troubles 
were  intensified,  for  rain  fell  all  day,  and  there  was  nothing  to 
protect  the  men  except  branches  of  fir  trees  and  their  woolen 
blankets  which  were  soon  wet  through,  so  that  all  were 
quickly  drenched  to  the  skin.  So  heavy  was  the  downpour, 
fires  were  out  of  the  question  and  the  Tenth  was  a  bedraggled 
lot.  Towards  night  a  ration  of  whiskey,  red  pepper  and 
quinine  was  given  out  to  keep  off  the  chills.  At  6.00  o'clock 
General  Couch  gave  permission  to  cross  the  river  and  return 
/to  Brightwood,  a  privilege  that  the  majority  accepted  with 
pleasure,  for  any  change  would  afford  some  relief.  In  half  an 
hour,  the  wagons  were  loaded  and  the  move  began.  The 
march,  however,  made  an  impression  on  the  memory.  Ac 
counts  vary  as  to  the  depth  of  the  mud,  all  the  way  from 
ankle  to  knee  deep.  The  roads  had  been  washed  and  gullied 
by  the  rain,  the  night  was  pitch  dark  and  all  one's  strength 
was  necessary  to  advance  at  all,  but  visions  of  shelter  and 
warm  fires  in  Brightwood  cheered  and  encouraged  the  weary 
plodders,  until  at  one  o'clock  Sunday  morning  they  got  back 
to  their  old  quarters,  i.e.,  those  who  were  vigorous  enough  to 
keep  the  pace;  some  did  not  start  with  the  Regiment  but 


MAK.  22,  '02  BIUGHTWOOD  03 

remained  near  the  bridge  till  morning  and  then  picked  their 
way  by  daylight,  so  that  men  were  coming  into  camp  until 
afternoon,  indeed  the  last  did  not  straggle  in  for  two  days. 
A  lesson  was  had  by  this  trip  as  to  the  impossibility  of  carry 
ing  such  enormous  knapsacks;  some  threw  away  overcoats 
and  blankets,  others  knapsacks  themselves  with  all  their 
contents,  preferring  to  take  the  consequences  rather  than 
make  pack  peddlers  of  themselves.  Whiskey  was  given  out 
as  a  solace  and  stimulant  to  the  companies  after  the  long  and 
trying  march. 

Fortunately  the  barracks,  so  long  the  comfortable  quarters, 
were  found  as  they  had  been  left  and  the  boys  thought  them 
the  very  next  thing  to  home  as  they  lay  down  for  rest  and 
dryness.  For  several  days  there  was  nothing  doing  except  to 
clear  away  the  effects  of  the  march  to  Prospect  Hill  and  back, 
and  to  further  prepare  for  the  real  departure  which  certainly 
was  now  impending.  On  the  22d  came  orders  for  officers  to 
reduce  their  baggage  to  a  small  satchel  or  hand  bag,  orders 
which  gave  said  officers  no  little  dissatisfaction,  for  they  had 
imagined  good  sized  trunks  following  them  in  the  baggage 
wagons  just  as  they  had  heard  of  in  histories  of  other  cam 
paigns,  but  they  had  to  obey  and  all  extras  were  carefully 
packed  away  in  boxes  and  many  a  load  was  sent  for  storage 
and  safe-keeping  to  the  barn  of  one  Schumaker  until  called 
for.  As  a  safe  deposit,  said  Schumaker  was  not  altogether 
a  success,  since  six  months  later  not  a  vestige  of  his  consign 
ments  could  be  found.  In  this  way  several  thousand  dollars 
worth  of  belongings  was  lost  to  the  Regiment. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  25th,  a  start  was  made  for  the 
city,  expecting  to  take  transports  for  Fortress  Monroe,  but  on 
reaching  the  headquarters  of  General  Couch,  a  halt  was  called 
for  two  hours,  waiting  for  the  2d  Rhode  Island.  Once  more 
under  way  we  got  no  further  than  Columbia  College,  the  old 
drill  ground,  where  another  wait  was  had  till  six  o'clock  when 
orders  came  to  return  to  Brightwood.  On  reaching  that  place 
some  of  the  barracks  had  been  torn  down  or  burned,  but  by 
dint  of  space-economy  all  managed  to  squeeze  in  and  pass 


64  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

the  night.  It  seemed  that  the  brigade  was  too  soon  for  the 
transports.  These  days  were  not  the  best  for  entertaining 
visitors,  but  the  latter  had  to  take  things  as  they  found  them. 
Among  the  friends  from  the  home  land  were  J.  C.  Bridgman 
of  Springfield  and  his  brother,  S.  C.,  of  Northampton,  also 
Charles  O.  Chapin  and  General  Jas.  S.  Whitney,  formerly 
Supt.  of  the  U.  S.  Armory,  Springfield,  with  J.  C.  Parsons  of 
Holyoke,  C.  B.  Bowers  of  Hartford,  and  Messrs.  Edward  and 
Wells  Southworth  of  West  Springfield.  The  26th  brought 
what  had  been  attempted  several  times,  viz,  the  actual  sepa 
ration  from  Bright  wood,  so  long  the  pleasant  camping  place 
of  the  Regiment.  Many  a  moralizing  sentiment  was  expressed, 
especially  a  few  weeks  afterwards  when  the  contrast  between 
actual  campaigning  and  Bright  wood  was  made.  Says  one 
careful  chronicler,  "There  were  several  houses  near,  where 
we  used  to  make  friendly  calls.  We  were  welcomed  at  the 
homes  of  Frank  P.  Blair,  Sr.,  and  his  son,  Montgomery  P.,  the 
Postmaster  General.  We  have  been  in  camp  here  about  seven 
months  and  they  have  been  pleasant  ones.  We  expect  the 
next  seven  months  will  show  a  different  state  of  things.  More 
than  200,000  men  have  been  lying  idle  here  all  winter,  but 
there  is  now  a  prospect  of  work  ahead,  and  though  not  over 
anxious  for  a  fight,  I  do  want  to  see  the  war  ended." 

Fully  a  thousand  men  filled  with  hope  and  enthusiasm 
marched  away  from  the  long-time  camp  with  cheers,  and 
joining  the  brigade,  passed  down  that  great  historic  way, 
Seventh  street,  up  which  some  of  these  very  men,  three  years 
later,  July  12,  '64,  then  in  the  ranks  of  the  37th  Mass.,  marched 
to  that  same  Fort  Massachusetts,  then  Fort  Stevens,  to  help 
hold  it  against  the  assaults  of  General  Jubal  Early  and  his 
men.  This  they  did  before  the  very  face  of  the  President 
himself  accompanied  by  several  of  his  Cabinet  officers.  Never 
was  victory  won  under  more  distinguished  observation.  But 
now  transports  were  awaiting  the  Tenth  at  the  foot  of  Sixth 
street.  The  brigade  embarked  in  order,  the  Seventh  going  on 
board  the  Daniel  Webster,  and  what  a  coincidence  it  was  that 
the  most  of  these  men  were  from  Plymouth  County,  from  all 


MAR.  27,  '62 


ALEXANDRIA 


65 


about  the  peaceful  cemetery  in  Marshfield  where  the  body 
of  the  great  statesman  was  lying.  Next  went  on  board  the 
36th  New  York,  then  the  Second  Rhode  Island,  and  last  of  all 
the  Tenth,  Companies  G,  E  and  C  going  aboard  the  Sea-Shore, 
H  and  F  on  the  Dondson,  K,  D,  B,  A  and  I  on  the  Arid.  The 


Embrasure  in   North  Works.  Westward,   Parapet   at   Right. 

Interior,   looking  West.  Northward,   Parapet,    Right. 

FORT  STEVENS  IN    1899. 

sutler's  wagons,  etc.,  were  loaded  on  the  Mystic,  a  whole  day 
being  devoted  to  the  embarkation.  Everything  was  ready 
for  the  morrow's  start. 

Thursday,  the  27th,  came  at  last  and  while  the  men  break 
fasted  from  haversacks  on  board,  the  officers  found  their 
morning  meal  ashore  and  at  nine  o'clock  the  steamers  were 
under  way.  The  Ariel  stopped  at  Alexandria  and  took  in  tow 
two  schooners,  loaded  with  cavalry  men  and  horses.  Eight 
months  before,  almost  to  a  day,  the  Regiment  was  steaming 


66  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

up  the  river,  and  while  it  had  seen  no  fighting,  it  was  a  much 
better  organized  and  equipped  body  now  than  it  was  then, 
soon  to  prove  itself  a  magnificent  fighting  machine.  Again 
was  Mount  Vernon  passed  and  Fort  Washington,  nearly 
opposite ;  at  Aquia  Creek  appeared  indications  of  recent  occu 
pation  in  that  the  Rebels  had  just  departed,  leaving  smoking 
ruins  of  wharfs  and  store-houses,  lest  they  might  fall  into 
Union  hands.  What  a  bustling  place  this  same  Aquia  Creek 
was  to  become  in  the  near  future,  and  what  a  field  of  waste 
would  extend  all  the  way  to  Fredericksburg!  The  28th  re 
vealed  Fortress  Monroe,  said  to  be  the  strongest  fortification 
in  the  United  States,  and  Yankee  boys  admired  its  immense 
proportions  and  gazed  over  the  waters,  where  only  twenty 
days  before  the  appearance  of  a  strange  craft  and  its  subse 
quent  deeds  had  unsettled  for  all  time  the  whole  science  of  sea 
fighting,  as  well  as  saved  the  entire  Atlantic  coast  from  the 
ravages  of  the  iron-clad  Merrimac.  And  there,  too,  was  the 
Monitor  itself,  that  wonder  of  the  world;  for  the  nonce,  the 
preserver  of  America.  Never  was  an  equal  quantity  of  iron  in 
the  shape  of  a  ship  more  wonderingly  admired.  On  her  turret 
might  be  plainly  seen  the  dents  of  the  ordnance  of  the  Merri 
mac,  and  the  boys  blessed  the  day  which  sent  Ericsson  to  the 
"Land  of  the  Free."  The  scene  was  a  lively  one;  there  was 
the  Rip-raps,  whence  its  big  Sawyer  gun  sent  iron  compliments 
to  the  enemy  on  Sewell's  Point,  just  north  of  Norfolk,  where 
nearly  fifty  years  later,  1907,  both  North  and  South  united 
in  placing  an  Exposition,  commemorative  of  the  landing  at 
Jamestown.  The  whole  harbor  was  alive  with  steam  and 
sailing  craft  of  every  description. 

Saturday,  the  29th,  the  Ariel  landed  her  burden  of  humanity 
at  about  6.00  a.  m.  in  Hampton,  where  arms  were  stacked  to 
await  the  coming  of  the  other  companies.  It  was  the  same 
Hampton  where,  in  the  coming  years,  so  many  age-worn 
veterans  were  to  spend  their  last  days  in  the  National  Soldiers' 
Home  to  be  established  there  by  a  grateful  Government.  On 
this  day,  however,  only  a  scene  of  desolation  greeted  the  eye, 
since  the  enemv  had  burned  it  rather  than  that  it  should  fall 


MAR.  29,  '62  HAMPTON-,  VA.  67 

into  the  hands  of  the  Union  army.  General  Magruder  was 
the  offending  Confederate,  and  a  sad  picture  he  left  for  those 
to  come  after  him.  Amid  the  ruins,  streets  were  hardly  dis 
tinguishable;  even  the  ancient  Episcopal  church,  one  of  the 
oldest  in  America,  was  not  spared,  but  went  down  with  the 
rest.  Only  a  few  negro  huts  escaped  the  general  destruction. 
The  inhabitants  were  said  to  have  fled  to  Norfolk.  The  Regi 
ment,  having  landed  at  about  1.00  p.  m.,  proceeded  to  New 
port  News  and  went  into  camp,  later  called  "Camp  Smith." 
Nearby  was  a  house  occupied  by  an  old  fellow  who  proclaimed 
himself  a  neutral,  thus  receiving  such  a  creature's  deserts,  viz, 
the  detestation  of  both  sides.  He  had  a  flag  of  truce  flying  in 
front  of  his  house  and  a  couple  of  red-headed  girls  hanging  over 
the  fence ;  in  spite  of  himself,  the  hues  of  his  flag,  his  daughters' 
hair  and  the  blue  of  his  own  face  made  up  the  Union  colors. 
Here  the  Regiment  was  visited  by  the  Allotment  Commission 
from  Massachusetts  whose  errand  was  to  have  soldiers  who 
cared  to  do  so,  allot  such  portions  of  their  pay  as  they  chose 
to  their  families  or  other  persons.  In  this  way  the  paymaster 
would  send  the  allotted  part  directly  to  its  destination,  thus 
relieving  the  soldier  of  further  anxiety.  It  was  a  beneficent 
scheme  and  worked  admirably  throughout  the  war.  If  the 
soldier  had  no  family  and  still  was  of  a  saving  nature,  he  might 
allot  it  to  the  State  Treasury  of  Massachusetts,  where  it  would 
draw  six  per  cent  interest  and  would  be  ready  for  him  when 
he. returned.  The  plan  was  exceedingly  popular  in  the  Tenth. 
The  next  day  (30th)  the  wagon  train  came  up  and  rubber 
blankets  were  furnished,  thus  enabling  men  to  better  with 
stand  the  rain;  hard-tack  and  coffee  were  somewhat  scarce 
though  we  were  near  sources  of  supply.  The  camp  was  four 
miles  from  Hampton  on  the  Yorktown  road,  the  latter  place 
being  the  probable  destination  of  the  expedition.  A  line  of 
fortifications  extended  from  Yorktown  on  the  York  river, 
across  the  peninsula  to  the  James.  More  than  15,000  Rebels 
were  said  to  be  guarding  this  line  and  more  of  the  enemy  were 
on  their  way  from  Richmond.  The  month  of  March  ended 
with  the  shelling  of  Wm.  F.  Smith's  Division  (2d),  just  in 


68  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

advance  of  Keyes's,  by  the  Rebel  gunboat,  Teaser,  doing  no 
special  damage,  however,  while  Serg.  Amos  Pettis,  Company  I, 
returned  from  recruiting  service  with  twenty-one  new  men. 

The  earlier  days  of  April  were  reserved  for  rest  and  prepara 
tion,  and  on  the  4th  the  march  towards  Yorktown  began. 
It  was  7.00  a.  m.,  a  most  beautiful  morning,  with  peach  trees 
in  every  direction  in  full  bloom.  Truly  the  prospect  pleased 
whether  the  beholders  were  vile  or  not.  It  was  not  a  hurried 
march  at  first;  halting  at  intervals,  passing  Newport  News 
at  ten  o'clock,  and  turning  to  the  right  we  followed  up  the 
James  river  along  a  road  running  parallel  to  it  and  about 
forty  rods  from  the  bank.  The  country  was  low  and  level 
though  a  ridge  rose  to  the  height  of  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  along 
the  bank  of  the  river.  Here  had  been  the  camp  of  W.  F.  Smith's 
division,  now  ahead  of  us.  About  noon  General  Smith  sent 
back  word  that  he  was  in  sight  of  one  of  the  enemy's  batteries 
and  asked  permission  to  attack.  On  getting  the  assent  of 
General  Keyes  he  fired  a  single  shell,  which  was  enough  to 
precipitate  the  flight  of  the  Rebels.  Two  brigades  of  the  First 
Division  were  sent  forward  to  support  Smith  but  they  were 
not  needed;  our  halting  place  was  on  the  picket  ground  of 
the  Confederates  the  night  before,  stopping  here  two  or  three 
hours.  The  woods,  close  by,  abounded  in  hogs  and  pigs,  and 
the  soldiers  were  not  slow  in  noting  the  fact,  going  after  them 
with  a  rush,  and  soon  returning  with  liberal  pieces  of  fresh 
pork  whose  toothsome  qualities  they  were  quickly  realizing 
over  freshly  built  fires.  Resuming  the  march  it  was  con 
tinued  till  after  dark  when,  turning  into  the  pine  woods,  arms 
were  stacked  and  behind  them,  lying  on  the  ground,  the 
Regiment  was  soon  fast  asleep. 

Reveille  sounded  early  the  5th,  for  the  line  of  march  was 
resumed  at  sunrise,  though  progress  was  slow  on  account  of 
numerous  holes  in  the  ground  and  the  trees  which  the  enemy 
had  felled  across  the  road  to  impede  the  way.  At  nine  o'clock 
we  reached  the  works  taken  by  Smith's  men  the  day  before, 
and  here  we  were  deluged  by  a  torrent  of  rain  which  rendered 
the  already  heavy  road  almost  impassable,  yet  the  army 


APRIL  5,  '62  UP  THE  PENINSULA  69 

struggled  on.  The  works  were  formidable  and,  well  defended, 
should  have  given  us  a  deal  of  trouble.  Marching  across  a 
long  plain  we  reached  a  large  mill-pond  at  the  right,  the  road 
going  down  into  a  ravine,  and  hard  by  were  palisades  and  other 
fortifications  of  a  formidable  character,  together  with  bar 
racks  enough  to  house  four  or  five  thousand  soldiers,  but  the 
occupants  had  departed.  Here  the  Tenth  and  the  36th  New 
York  made  a  wide  detour  to  the  left,  taking  a  straight  line 
through  the  woods  and  ploughed  fields.  By  this  time  the 
sun  was  shining  its  hottest  and  the  men,  weighed  down  by 
knapsacks  and  wet  clothes,  began  to  wilt  under  the  effects  of 
the  rapid  march.  Many  fell  out,  completely  exhausted,  though 
the  Regiment  still  pressed  forward,  while  the  way  was  strewn 
with  blankets,  shoes,  overcoats  and  all  sorts  of  things  rejected 
from  the  overloaded  knapsacks. 

Reaching  a  piece  of  woods  at  noon,  there  came  a  halt  of  an 
hour,  during  which  the  most  of  the  stragglers  came  up.  Then, 
at  the  sound  of  the  bugle,  we  fell  in  and  marched  through  the 
woods  and  into  an  open  field.  Here  we  saw  the  Second  Rhode 
Island  disappearing  into  some  woods  at  the  right,  with  guns 
on  shoulder  and  at  double  quick.  On  we  came,  finding  at  our 
left  one  of  our  batteries  in  position.  We  took  a  turn  to  the 
left  and,  "On  right  by  file  into  line,"  came  straight  across 
the  field,  the  36th,  in  line  of  battle,  extending  the  line  to  the 
left.  Then  came  "Load  at  will;"  next  up  the  road  we  had 
left  in  the  morning  came  the  Seventh  Mass.,  and  formed  in 
our  rear.  A  hundred  rods  in  front  of  us  was  a  piece  of  woods; 
directly  in  our  front  was  a  road  and,  on  each  side  of  the  road 
a  Virginia  rail  fence.  The  fence  was  torn  down,  and  passing 
through  we  formed  in  line  in  the  next  field  near  the  woods, 
where  the  enemy  was  supposed  to  be.  Presently  the  right 
company  (H),  and  the  left  (G),  were  thrown  out  as  skirmishers 
across  our  front  and  passed  on  to  the  edge  of  the  woods,  but 
not  a  Rebel  could  be  seen.  All  this  time  the  Union  batteries 
were  pounding  away  on  our  right,  but  entirely  out  of  our  sight. 
The  skirmishers  were  called  in,  column  formed,  and  the 
march  resumed  up  the  road,  past  Warwick  County  Court 


70  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

House,  only  a  barn-like  structure  built  of  brick.  In  the  village 
were,  besides  a  tavern,  store  and  jail,  one  or  two  dwellings, 
very  much  like  the  most  of  Virginian  villages.  Down  a  little 
hill  we  went,  through  a  creek  up  to  our  knees,  thence  half  a 
mile  of  muddy  road,  and  into  a  piece  of  woods.  Nearer  and 
nearer  sounded  the  cannon,  and  every  minute  we  expected 
to  arrive  in  sight  of  the  fort  when,  "Right  about,  march" 
was  the  order  and  back  we  went.  We  "filed  right"  into  an 
open  field,  and  here  was  another  of  our  batteries;  we  stacked 
arms,  threw  ourselves  on  the  ground  and  awaited  the  next 
order.  Remaining  here  till  after  sundown,  we  marched  back 
past  the  Court  House,  and  closed  up  in  column  by  division  in 
an  open  common  of  hard  clay,  with  the  water  standing  in 
puddles  all  over  it.  Here  we  stacked  arms  and,  "in  place, 
rest,"  waited,  expecting  an  order  to  move  at  any  moment. 
It  was  after  nine  o'clock,  when  the  men  were  all  asleep,  the 
bugle  sounded  and  up  we  rose,  tired  and  hungry,  and  off  we 
started,  taking  a  bee-line  for  the  woods  we  had  faced  when 
we  first  formed  line  in  the  afternoon.  The  whole  Regiment 
was  detailed  for  picket  duty  and  the  line  was  a  mile  long. 

The  6th  was  Sunday  and  we  were  in  the  enemy's  country; 
Companies  B,  D,  E,  G,  H  and  K  were  detailed  for  duty  on  the 
roads.  Early  in  the  morning  a  reconnoitering  party  was 
called  for  from  our  brigade  and  Company  I  of  the  Tenth  and 
one  from  the  36th  New  York  were  detailed  and  ordered  to 
report  to  Lieutenant  Merrill  of  McClellan's  staff.  Both  com 
panies  were  thrown  out  as  skirmishers,  only  one  platoon 
being  held  as  reserve.  They  skirmished  along  the  enemy's 
front  about  a  mile  and  a  half  when  quite  a  body  of  troops  was 
encountered,  proving  to  be  the  Seventh  Maine  and  the  Fifth 
Wisconsin  of  General  Hancock's  brigade,  Smith's  Division, 
out  on  the  same  mission,  and  the  two  companies  were  at  once 
attached  to  his  battalion.  The  Rebel  fortification  could  be  seen 
plainly,  with  the  stars  and  bars  waving,  and  the  Rebel  shouts 
could  be  heard  as  they  caught  sight  of  our  party,  upon  which 
they  commenced  and  kept  up  a  scattering  fire.  Several  of 
the  skirmishers  were  injured,  one  having  an  arm  shot  off  and 


APRIL  7,  '62  WARWICK  COURT  HOUSE  71 

another  an  ugly  cut  in  the  thigh.  As  the  last  mentioned,  a 
lad  of  eighteen,  came  in,  General  Hancock  examined  his 
wound  and,  patting  him  on  the  head,  remarked,  "My  boy, 
you  have  a  mark  of  honor  for  life."  Four  straggling  Alabama 
soldiers  were  picked  up.  They  were  not  uniformed,  but  were 
armed  with  old  flint-lock  muskets,  altered  to  percussion  of  the 
model  of  1S23,  originally  made  at  the  Valley  Forge  Arsenal. 
Their  equipments  were  decidedly  old  fashioned,  their  canteens 
were  made  of  wood,  the  cartridge  and  cap  boxes  clumsy  and 
ill-shaped.  They  were  intelligent  men,  however,  and  would 
give  but  little  information. 

After  the  General  and  Lieutenant  were  satisfied  with  their 
reconnoissance,  it  being  near  sundown,  the  troops  started  for 
camp,  going  two  and  a  half  miles  through  a  great  swamp, 
with  water,  in  some  places,  two  feet  deep.  Late  in  the  evening 
the  party  arrived  at  the  headquarters  of  Smith's  division  and 
bivouacked  for  the  night.  Some  of  the  men,  building  fires 
to  dry  their  clothing,  attracted  the  attention  of  the  enemy, 
thus  drawing  fire  from  his  batteries.  This,  however,  did  not 
last  long,  and  the  men  secured  the  rest  so  much  needed,  and 
early  in  the  morning  of  the  7th  returned  to  their  regiments. 
So  here  the  Regiment  was  at  Warwick  Court  House  and  with 
the  rest  of  the  army  was  put  on  short  rations,  the  bad  condi 
tion  of  the  roads  delaying  the  supply  trains.  They  had  to  come 
from  Newport  News  or  Shipping  Point,  twenty  miles  away, 
and  the  recent  rains  had  put  the  roads  in  a  terrible  plight. 
Here  it  was  that  the  soldiers  entered  upon  the  subsequently 
well  learned  trade  of  building  corduroy  roads,  long  stretches 
of  which  had  to  be  made  before  the  wagons  could  come  up. 
Fortunately  there  were  many  cattle  and  hogs  running  wild 
between  the  lines  of  the  two  armies  and  their  capture  not  only 
furnished  fun  for  the  men  but  helped  to  eke  out  the  shortened 
rations,  though  northern  soldiers  were  not  accustomed  to  the 
wild  garlic  flavor  with  which  their  fresh  meat  reeked,  from 
the  abundance  of  that  weed  in  the  vicinity. 

The  Warwick  river,  flowing  due  south,  had  Rebel  pickets 
on  its  west  banks,  while  Union  soldiers  performed  similar 


72  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

duty  on  the  east,  and  to  the  Fourth  Corps  was  assigned  the 
task  of  guarding  the  river  from  the  Court  House  to  the  James. 
As  the  river  was  not  a  wide  one,  the  opposing  pickets  were 
within  easy  rifle  range  and  there  was  considerable  firing  on 
both  sides,  though  few  men  were  hit.  At  night,  when  the 
darkness  shut  each  other  from  view,  the  rival  guardsmen 
would  draw  near  the  water  and  indulge  in  badinage  or  back 
talk,  which,  while  it  hurt  neither  party,  really  afforded  more 
satisfaction  than  the  burning  of  gunpowder  during  the  day. 
All  through  the  war  this  exchange  of  compliments  was  a 
favorite  amusement  of  the  American  cousins,  for  the  time 
being,  at  political  odds.  Says  Johnny,  "What  all  you  'uns 
come  down  yer  foh?  You  'uns  can't  beat  we  'uns."  Some 
Yankee  would  shout  back,  "Who  be  we  'uns?"  at  which  his 
fellows  would  laugh  heartily.  With  such  introduction,  there 
followed  long  and  hot  discussions  as  to  the  conditions  under 
which  these  men  of  the  same  race  and  creed  found  themselves 
with  arms  in  hand,  ready  to  take  each  others'  lives.  By  tacit 
consent,  the  barbarous  practice  of  picket  firing  was  gradu 
ally  abandoned. 

More  rain  on  the  8th,  and  the  men  were  getting  lessons  in 
the  art  of  putting  up  their  tents,  for  those  who  had  not  chosen 
good  locations  the  night  before  or  had  not  put  up  their 
shelters  properly  found  themselves  very  uncomfortable  so  that 
in  the  morning  there  was  a  general  rearrangement  of  quarters. 
The  next  day  brought  still  more  rain  and  a  nearer  approach  to 
the  hunger  line,  for  the  wagons  did  not  come  up  and  five  pieces 
of  hard  bread  were  a  day's  ration.  April  10th  introduced  the 
sun  once  more  with  clear  and  pleasant  weather.  The  pay 
master  also  came  and  rendered  the  dues  for  January  and 
February  and  thereby  left  smiles  on  the  sutler's  face.  For 
a  few  days  there  was  little  more  than  the  regular  round  of 
camp  life,  with  the  variation  of  picket  duty  which,  with  pleas 
ant  weather,  the  men  found  rather  enjoyable,  and  as  the 
supply  of  provisions  became  normal,  being  in  the  enemy's 
country  was  not  thought  so  very  hard  after  all.  There  was 
the  necessary  building  of  corduroy  roads,  but  Yankee  hands 


APRIL  16,  '62  UP  THE  PENINSULA  73 

were  not  averse  to  building  of  any  sort.  On  the  14th  came  a 
battalion  drill  with  inspection  and  a  dress  parade,  and  from 
headquarters  came  the  orders  that  there  should  be  no  music 
of  any  kind,  nor  even  noise,  rather  severe  restraint  for  health 
ful  lungs,  while  from  the  camps  of  the  enemy  sounded  strains 
of  "Dixie"  and  "Maryland,  my  Maryland." 

Monotony  ended  on  the  16th,  for  while  some  of  the  Regiment 
had  been  ordered  out  to  work  on  the  corduroy  road,  the  order 
was  soon  countermanded  and  all  returned  to  camp,  only  to 
fall  into  line  with  guns,  equipments  and  a  day's  rations,  and 
march  three  miles  to  the  right,  for  there  was  firing  up  towards 
the  front  and  the  "prospects  of  fun"  were  fine.  One  observer 
writes,  "We  have  lain  in  the  woods  all  day  supporting  Mott's 
Battery  and  are  detailed  for  picket  tonight."  Another  says, 
"In  line  till  nine  o'clock  at  night,  when  we  returned  to  camp 
for  our  knapsacks  and  baggage,  marching,  coming  and  going, 
nearly  all  night,  stopping  two  and  a  half  hours  for  rest."  In 
their  new  position  the  men  were  gaining  an  insight  of  the 
extent  and  variety  of  Virginian  insect  life.  Seemingly,  noth 
ing  that  could  jump,  sting  or  bite  had  been  omitted,  but  the 
palm,  for  pure  cussedness,  was  readily  yielded  to  the  wood- 
tick,  a  creature  that  burrowed  his  head  into  the  person  of  his 
victim  with  evident  intent  to  remain  indefinitely,  but  his 
presence  became  known  at  once,  while  he  swelled  to  fabulous 
size  on  the  best  blood  of  the  soldier.  Woe  be  to  the  individual 
if,  in  his  pain,  he  pulled  the  tormentor  out  willy-nilly,  for  his 
head  remained  to  produce  a  festering  sore.  The  only  way  to 
rid  one's  self  of  the  torment  was  to  carefully  twist  him  out, 
unscrew  him,  as  it  were,  then  kill  him  at  your  pleasure,  and 
only  the  red  spot  of  his  former  depredations  reminded  you 
of  your  sufferings. 

This  same  day  the  First  Division  began  shelling  the  Rebel 
forts  while  the  First  Vermont,  in  attempting  to  cross  the  river 
had  a  taste  of  the  enemy's  fire.  Day  and  night  were  badly 
mixed  at  this  time  for  it  was  only  2.00  a.  m.  of  the  17th  when 
the  short  nap  of  the  Tenth  was  broken  that  it  might  march 
four  miles  with  repeated  halts  on  the  way.  We  stayed  in 


74  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

new  position  till  noon;  there  was  slight  skirmishing,  but  not 
enough  to  leave  the  place  which  we  called  "Camp  Winfield 
Scott."  On  the  18th  the  Regiment  furnished  one  hundred 
men  for  picket  duty,  and  the  36th  New  York  seventy-five, 
and  all  were  stationed  on  outposts.  There  was  a  march  of 
about  four  miles  to  establish  posts  and  then  came  a  detach 
ment  from  the  llth  Maine  and  56th  New  York  to  relieve  them 
and  the  whole  marching  had  to  be  done  over  again.  We  were 
near  enough  to  the  enemy  to  see  him  busily  trying  to  strengthen 
his  works,  also  to  see  the  relief  of  his  guards  and  hear  the 
bands  play  the  southern  airs.  Five  forts  could  be  plainly  seen. 
During  the  night  there  was  an  alarm  from  one  of  the  o6th 
men  who  thought  he  saw  the  whole  Rebel  army  approaching, 
so  fired  his  gun,  threw  it  over  the  fence  and  ran.  The  situa 
tion  was  making  novices  nervous. 

In  the  morning  of  the  19th  (Concord  and  Lexington  Day 
in  Massachusetts),  the  men  on  picket  helped  Captain  Harvey 
of  the  1 1th  Maine  in  straightening  the  picket  line  and  then 
fell  back  to  the  camp,  glad  enough  of  rest.  Hardly  had  the 
slumbers  of  night  begun  when  an  alram  on  the  picket  line 
turned  everybody  out  in  the  drenching  rain  and  it  was  no 
gentle  shower;  thus  under  arms  and  dripping,  the  return  of 
daylight  was  awaited.  The  entire  Regiment  was  a  reserve 
for  the  picket  line.  The  morning  of  the  20th  found  the  men 
soaked  but  watchful,  and  at  six  o'clock,  ready  to  turn  in, 
despite  their  wet  garments.  The  forenoon  was  devoted  to 
drying  and  sleeping.  At  nightfall,  the  camp  was  moved  a 
little  nearer  the  enemy  and  into  the  woods,  an  improvement 
on  the  previous  location,  the  ground  being  higher  and  dryer. 
At  1.00  a.  m.  of  the  following  day  came  picket  duty  again. 
A  still  further  approach  towards  the  enemy  was  ordered  the 
22d,  and  a  half  mile  nearer,  right  under  his  guns;  a  good  place 
had  hardly  been  selected  before  we  were  ordered  back  to  the 
old  camp  at  the  Court  House  which  we  reached  at  6.00  p.  m. 
Those  who  complained  of  inactivity  at  Brightwood  were  con 
spicuously  quiet  now. 

Here  April  ended  with  no  serious  undertaking,  but  nothing 


APRIL  30,  '62  YOUNG'S  HOUSE  75 

approaching  the  inactivity  of  the  former  days  at  Brightwood. 
Northern  newspapers  were  satisfied  that  McClellan  was  moving, 
though  far  from  filling  the  ideal  of  a  forward  movement .  In  the 
light  of  subsequent  knowledge  many  improvements  might  have 
been  made,  but  very  likely  he  was  acting  according  to  his  best 
judgment.  What  better  could  any  one  do?  On  the  23d  there 
was  regimental  inspection ;  every  day  saw  large  details  go 
out  for  work  on  the  corduroys,  and  there  was  the  regular 
round  of  picket  duty.  The  latter  afforded  more  variety  than 
the  same  near  Washington,  for  the  enemy  was  close  at  hand 
all  the  time  and  it  was  his  special  care  to  see  that  too  much 
ease  should  not  be  the  lot  of  the  Yankees.  Those  whom 
duty  sent  to  the  vicinage  of  Young's  house  told  tales  of  the 
beauty  of  its  surroundings  and  the  enjoyment  they  got  out  of 
its  shelter  and  appointments.  The  owner,  a  wealthy  Virginian, 
had  gone  into  the  Rebel  service,  so  said,  and  his  home  was 
given  over  to  the  invader.  The  building  was  no  great  affair, 
a  rambling  three-story  dwelling,  but  the  estate  was  one  of 
great  beauty,  overlooking  the  James  and  the  adjacent  country, 
having  large  orchards  of  a  great  variety  of  fruit  and  extensive 
pleasure  grounds,  tastefully  laid  out  and  embellished.  Com 
pared  with  the  dingy  surroundings  of  the  Court  House  every 
thing  here  was  palatial.  The  war  must  have  completely 
ruined  the  entire  plant,  though  Union  men  did  not  begin  its 
destruction,  since  the  Rebels  had  used  the  place  as  head 
quarters,  thus  giving  it  a  start  downwards.  Eels,  caught  in 
the  nearby  river  were  cooked  in  the  capacious  fireplaces  of 
the  mansion,  the  doors  and  casings  providing  the  best  of  fuel. 
Once  the  Rebel  gunboat,  Teaser,  came  down  and  ranged  her 
self  for  a  bombardment,  apparently,  but  on  second  thought, 
seemed  to  give  up  the  scheme  and  steamed  slowly  down  the 
river.  On  an  alarm  the  28th,  line  was  formed,  but  after  a 
brief  time  it  was  dismissed,  though  equipments  were  kept  on 
all  night.  That  night  the  Teaser  did  throw  some  shells  at  the 
Young  house,  but  no  damage  was  done.  The  last  day  of  the 
month  had  a  record  of  muster  for  pay  and  orders  to  be  ready 
to  move  on  a  moment's  notice. 


76  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

During  much  of  this  time,  the  siege  of  Yorktown  was  sup 
posed  to  be  in  progress,  as  the  sound  of  heavy  guns  on  the 
right  gave  testimony;  the  work  of  the  Fourth  Corps  was 
entirely  supplementary.  In  later  years  we  learned  that 
Magruder,  the  Confederate  commander,  was  quite  as  anxious 
to  get  away  as  McClellan  was  to  have  him  go;  it  seems  very 
strange  that  their  common  wishes  were  not  sooner  gratified. 
It  had  rained  twenty  out  of  the  thirty  days  the  armies  had 
faced  each  other;  the  climate,  always  trying  to  northern  men, 
became  positively  pestilential  at  last  and  more  men  were  in 
capacitated  for  service  by  disease  than  by  gunpowder.  Yet 
when  the  end  came,  and  Magruder  changed  his  base  to  Wil- 
liamsburg  he  was  able  to  write,  "Thus,  with  5,000  men, 
exclusive  of  the  garrison,  we  stopped  and  held  in  check  more 
than  100,000  men  of  the  enemy."  All  of  this  time  the  soldiers 
were  ready  to  throw  up  their  hats  at  sight  of  McClellan,  by 
far  the  most  popular  leader  who  ever  held  command  of  the 
Potomac  army. 

The  month  of  May  saw  Colonel  Briggs  back  with  his  Regi 
ment,  Gen.  Charles  Devens  of  Worcester  and  the  15th  Regiment 
having  been  promoted,  April  15th,  and  soon  after  assigned  to 
the  command  of  the  Third  Brigade.  Strong  fortifications  were 
erected,  heavy  siege  guns  were  in  place  and  firing  missiles  at 
Yorktown,  thus  working  over  the  same  ground  which  had 
been  the  scene  of  the  closing  hours  of  the  War  of  the  Revo 
lution  and,  while  the  Union  forces  were  digging,  building 
corduroy  roads,  and  standing  guard,  the  Confederates,  having 
accomplished  their  purpose  of  establishing  more  tenable  de 
fenses  further  west,  were  preparing  to  steal  away.  On  the 
3d  of  May,  Company  I  was  at  the  Young  house  and  farm;  the 
Rebel  Teaser  was  lying  calmly  in  the  James,  while  the  enemy 
could  be  plainly  seen  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river.  With 
the  4th  day  came  needed  Quartermaster's  stores,  as  foot  and 
body  wear.  Commanders  of  companies  were  busy  giving  out 
these  supplies  when,  at  4.00  p.  m.,  the  army  was  ordered  to 
advance,  the  report  being  that  Yorktown  had  been  abandoned. 
It  was  true.  The  month's  delay  had  been  gained  and,  taking 


MAY  5,  '62  WILLIAMSBURG  77 

his  own  time,  setting  and  keeping  his  own  pace,  Magruder 
withdrew  towards  Williamsburg. 

Our  forces  passed  through  the  works,  finding  them  strong  and 
well  supplied  with  heavy  ordnance,  some  of  the  guns  spiked, 
many  overturned  with  their  carriages  burned,  and  while  the 
work  of  demolition  had  been  well  done,  seventy  or  eighty 
siege  guns,  with  a  large  quantity  of  ammunition  and  other 
supplies  were  left.  It  is  claimed  that  the  enemy  had  buried 
torpedoes  near  their  magazines  and  the  ways  likely  to  be 
trodden  by  their  pursuers,  and  that  a  caisson  driven  over  one, 
exploded  it,  thereby  killing  two  men.  Apprehensive  of  such 
conditions,  Rebel  prisoners  were  compelled  to  remove  the 
contents  of  the  magazines  and  storehouses  so  that  they  might 
receive  any  injury  incident  thereto.  Our  pursuit  ended  at 
Lebanon  church  after  marching  about  six  miles,  camping  as 
usual  in  the  rain.  A  large  house  near,  evidently  having  been 
used  by  a  surgeon,  displayed  a  quantity  of  children's  and 
women's  apparel,  the  same  being  scattered  over  the  entire 
house.  The  Rebels  were  here  yesterday,  we,  today.  Compa 
nies  F  and  G  went  on  picket,  the  remainder  of  the  Regiment 
camping  in  a  corn  field. 

WILLIAMSBURG 

May  5th,  1862,  is  associated  in  history  with  the  battle  of 
Williamsburg,  where  Hooker  acquired  his  reputation  as  a 
fighter  and  Hancock  won  recognition  of  his  military  genius. 
The  Tenth,  though  present,  was  too  late  to  use  the  charges 
with  which  their  guns  were  loaded,  but  their  disposition  was 
good  and  they  obeyed  orders  with  alacrity,  anxious  to  have  a 
part  in  the  conflict  to  the  sound  of  whose  thunders  they  had 
been  marching  for  toilsome  hours.  The  Regiment  left  Lebanon 
church  at  7.00  a.  m.,  accompanied  by  a  cold,  drizzling  rain, 
the  same  continuing  all  day.  By  noon,  the  booming  of  artil 
lery  became  very  apparent,  and  as  best  we  could,  we  hurried 
through  the  deep  mud  in  the  rain,  some  of  the  time  in 
torrents.  Confusion  was  everywhere,  for  all  branches  of  the 
service  were  doing  their  best  to  "get  there."  Sometimes  the 


78  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

companies  would  be  separated  by  a  passing  train  of  artillery, 
and  then  what  a  double-quick  was  necessary  to  catch  up! 
It  was  five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  when  the  battle  field  was 
reached,  two  miles  from  Williamsburg,  and  the  Tenth  was 
ordered  into  line  at  once  to  support  Hooker  who  was  engaged 
in  our  immediate  front.  The  latter,  in  his  anxiety  to  strike 
the  first  blow,  had  secured  the  privilege  of  moving  his  men  on 
the  Hampton  or  Warwick  road,  bringing  him  close  up  to  the 
enemy  on  the  evening  of  the  4th.  With  the  details  of  the  battle 
proper,  it  is  not  ours  to  deal,  but  history  tells  of  the  valiant 
deeds  of  the  day  and  how  men  fought  in  the  mud,  showing 
themselves  of  the  earth  earthly  in  a  double  sense.  For  nine 
hours  Hooker  had  battled  against  constantly  increasing  odds, 
regiment  after  regiment  of  the  enemy  turning  back  and  re 
turning  to  assail  him;  the  Union  forces,  so  near  and  yet  so 
far,  were  not  coming  to  his  relief  as  he  had  expected;  his  am 
munition  was  nearly  exhausted.  Smith's  division  of  the  Fourth 
Corps  was  on  the  right.  Hancock's  brigade  had  gone  well  over 
to  the  extreme  right,  close  to  Queen's  Creek  and,  taking  cer 
tain  redoubts  constructed  there  by  Magruder,  had  steadily  ad 
vanced  in  his  flank  movement.  It  was  at  this  moment  that  the 
Tenth  appeared  on  the  field,  ready  for  an  introduction  to  war's 
dread  realities.  Moving  forward  to  the  support  of  the  forces 
already  engaged  in  the  front,  there  came  an  orderly  praying 
for  help  for  Hancock,  the  foe  having  discovered  the  importance 
of  his  position  which  he  had  held  long  and  faithfully.  By  the 
right  flank  the  Tenth  started  at  a  trot  to  the  relief  of  Hancock 
but  others  had  reached  him  first,  and  with  the  bayonet  charge 
so  famous,  had  repulsed  the  Rebels,  leaving  the  key  of  the 
position  in  the  hands  of  the  gallant  Hancock,  who  that  day 
won  from  McClellan  his  life-long  title,  "The  Superb." 

But  the  Tenth  was  there  for  business  and  was  at  once  placed 
in  the  front  line  where  it  stayed  through  the  night.  Close  by, 
was  one  of  the  earthworks  which  formed  a  chain  of  defense 
across  the  peninsula  and  the  taking  of  two  of  which,  some 
hours  before,  had  given  the  Union  forces  their  advantage. 
Here  during  the  afternoon,  the  enemy  had  placed  some  two 


MAY  5,  '62  WILLIAMSBURG  79 

hundred  of  their  wounded  whose  groans  and  cries,  during  the 
night,  mingled  with  those  of  the  battle  field,  were  piteous  to 
hear.  When  night  came,  so  close  were  the  lines,  fires  were 
quite  out  of  the  question  and  the  cold  rain  continued  to  fall. 
There  was  no  shelter ;  nothing  for  the  weary  soldier  to  do  but 
lie  on  his  arms  and  get  what  food  his  haversack  might  contain. 
Under  such  circumstances,  how  fortunate  it  was  that  said 
haversacks  usually  held  more  hard-tack  than  the  owner  would 
care  to  eat  in  one  night.  During  the  night  the  Rebels  resumed 
their  interrupted  march  towards  Richmond.  Neither  side  had 
expected  the  battle  of  Williamsburg,  the  enemy  thinking  to 
go  much  further  before  making  a  strenuous  resistance,  and  so 
little  did  McClellan  expect  it,  he  had  remained  behind,  looking 
after  the  embarking  of  Franklin's  men,  thinking  that  the 
most  important  matter  of  the  hour;  but  the  speed  of  Stone- 
man's  calvary  pursuit  and  the  readiness  of  Stuart  to  meet 
him,  coupled  with  the  anxiety  of  Hooker  to  get  into  the  fray 
and  so  strike  a  blow,  upset  the  calculations  of  commanders 
on  both  sides.  Still  as  grewsome  witnesses  of  the  fierceness 
of  the  battle  neither  side  expected,  there  were  456  Union  dead, 
1,400  wounded  and  several  hundred  missing,  probably 
prisoners.  The  total  Confederate  loss  was  reported  at  about 
one  thousand. 

During  the  forced  march  up  to  the  front  the  color-bearer 
became  exhausted  and  the  standard  passed  into  the  keeping 
of  Sergt.  James  Knox  of  Company  I,  who  continued  to  carry 
it  until  he  won  his  deserved  promotion.  As  the  men  from  the 
Tenth  were  on  their  way  to  support  Hancock  they  passed 
General  Keyes,  Commander  of  the  Corps,  who  exclaimed, 
"Boys,  it  all  depends  upon  you,  and  you  know  Massachusetts 
never  retreats."  He  was  himself  a  native  of  the  Bay  State, 
and  spoke  from  knowledge.  The  dawn  of  the  6th,  revealing 
the  withdrawal  of  the  enemy,  cooking-fires  were  possible,  and 
the  soldier's  chief  consolation  in  the  food  line  soon  appeared 
in  the  shape  of  a  cup  of  hot  coffee.  Daylight  also  revealed  the 
terrible  suffering  resulting  from  the  battle  of  the  previous  day. 
Dead  bodies  strewed  the  ground ;  the  wounded  were  worse  off 


80  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

than  the  dead  for  the  latter  were  beyond  pain.  Rails  had 
been  brought  in  by  the  Rebels  and  fires  built  for  the  comfort 
of  the  wounded;  in  one  case  the  maimed  leg  of  a  Rebel  had 
been  placed  upon  a  rail,  one  end  of  which  was  in  the  fire.  The 
flames,  creeping  slowly  down  the  edge  of  the  rail,  had  reached 
the  leg  and,  while  the  poor  victim  was  suffering  untold  torture, 
he  was  helpless  to  aid  himself.  The  coming  of  his  enemies 
was  a  relief  to  him.  Men  of  all  grades  were  active  in  their 
efforts  to  assist  the  foe  as  well  as  the  friend.  Luckily  the 
weather  had  cleared  during  the  night,  so  that  rain  was  not  a 
hinderance  in  their  work  of  mercy.  Says  one  of  the  men  in 
his  diary,  "The  surgeons  are  all  busy  taking  care  of  the 
wounded  today.  Dr.  Chamberlain  is  busy  cutting  off  limbs. 
He  looks  more  like  a  butcher  than  anything  else;  he  is  all 
covered  with  blood,  but  he  is  a  very  careful  surgeon." 

"Why  was  not  the  enemy  immediately  pursued? "  is  a  ques 
tion  almost  any  reader  would  ask.  Two  reasons  combined 
to  prevent;  in  the  first  place  the  wagons  were  not  up  with 
rations;  and  the  condition  of  the  roads  was  so  bad  that  the 
army  would  have  had  difficulty  in  advancing,  though  the 
Confederates  were  falling  back  all  of  the  time.  Very  early 
in  the  morning  the  Tenth  marched  to  Fort  Magruder  near 
which  a  camp  was  established.  Apparently  a  large  share  of 
the  dead  and  wounded  Rebels  belonged  to  the  5th  North 
Carolina  and  the  24th  Virginia;  the  prisoners,  of  whom  there 
were  many,  being  kept  in  the  log  barracks  in  recent  use  by 
the  Confederate  garrison.  All  of  the  houses  and  barns  in  the 
vicinity  were  filled  with  the  wounded  of  both  armies.  Intel 
lectually,  the  natives  of  "Ole  Virginny  "  excelled  their  com 
rades  from  the  North  state;  they  were  also  better  dressed, 
the  uniforms  of  the  Tar  Heels  being  conspicuous  for  their 
non-uniformity.  In  later  times,  the  writers  of  North  Carolina 
have  quite  generally  claimed  that,  in  the  distribution  of  arms 
and  equipments  for  the  army,  the  State  was,  as  a  rule,  discrimi 
nated  against,  to  the  general  benefit  of  Virginia.  To  atone 
for  the  recent  lack  of  music  the  bands  were  tuning  up  in  the 
liveliest  manner.  Hard-tack  was  again  plentiful,  but  no 


MAY  7,  '62  WILLIAMSBURG  81 

baggage.  It  was  pleasant  to  see  the  Union  gunboats,  Galena, 
Monitor  and  Naugatuck  steaming  up  the  James,  while  the 
Rebel  craft,  Teaser,  Yorktown  and  Jamestown  were  keeping  a 
safe  distance  ahead  of  them.  Every  hour  brought  in  more 
dead  and  wounded  with  which  the  woods  were  literally  filled, 
especially  where  Hooker  and  Kearney  encountered  the  enemy. 

The  7th  and  8th  were  spent  in  camp  or  in  visiting  the  village 
of  Williamsburg.  It  was  not  a  large  place,  chiefly  interesting 
from  the  College  of  William  and  Mary,  the  second  oldest  in 
the  nation,  and  bearing  in  its  name  a  reminder  of  its  English 
patrons.  Here  were  educated  some  of  the  most  distinguished 
of  Southern  youth,  among  them  Washington  and  Jefferson. 
Now  the  edifice  was  used  as  a  hospital,  mostly  for  Rebels  who 
were  carried  there  during  the  fight,  the  ladies  of  the  place 
caring  for  them  most  tenderly.  May  9th  camp  was  broken, 
and  after  a  roundabout  march  of  ten  miles,  the  Regiment 
found  itself  only  three  miles  from  its  starting  point.  James 
City  is  the  name  of  the  stopping  place,  called  "city"  prob 
ably  by  the  rule  of  contraries,  since  there  were,  aside  from 
negro  huts,  only  three  houses  and  three  barns  in  the  place, 
and  the  inhabitants,  negroes  altogether.  The  march  of  the 
10th  brought  the  Regiment  to  Barhamsville  where  it  camped 
on  the  edge  of  a  beautiful  grove,  the  Seventh  Massachusetts 
on  the  right,  the  55th  New  York  in  the  rear,  being  about 
twenty  miles  from  Williamsburg.  Through  some  carelessness 
or  worse,  the  baggage  wagons  did  not  come  up,  thus  causing 
the  officers  a  deal  of  trouble  through  the  lack  of  change  of 
clothing.  The  following  two  days  were  spent  here,  opportun 
ity  being  found  for  dress  parade  which  excited  the  curiosity 
of  the  natives  who  came  from  a  distance  to  see  the  sight, 
some  of  them  declaring  that  they  had  never  seen  a  Union 
flag  before. 

It  was  from  here  that  Asa  Merrill  (H)  wrote  his  last  letter 
to  his  grandmother,  filled  with  love  of  home  and  friends  and 
descriptive  of  his  impressions  on  his  way  up  the  Peninsula. 
To  what  has  already  been  given  might  be  added  these  thoughts 
of  his : 


82  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Somewhere,  about  one  mile  from  Barren  Plain,  Va. 
Dear  Grandmother:  You  will  see  by  this  we  are  in  the  Wilder 
ness  of  Virginia.  (After  describing  the  fight  at  Williamsburg, 
he  continues.)  The  next  day  I  was  detailed  as  one  of  two 
out  of  our  Company  to  help  bury  the  Rebel  dead.  We  did 
not  have  any  tools  to  work  with  at  first,  so  I  went  all  over 
the  woods,  where  the  fight  was.  I  saw  an  old  Revolutionary 
work  behind  which  the  Rebels  lay.  I  counted  nearly  twenty 
Rebels  in  one  pile  and  half  as  many  of  our  men.  In  all  I  saw 
more  than  two  hundred  dead  Rebels,  the  most  of  whom  were 
shot  in  the  head  and  breast,  dying  apparently  without  pain. 
Where  two  or  three  fell  near  together,  we  dug  one  hole  and 
put  them  into  it,  to  the  depth  of  about  eighteen  inches.  I  have 
seen  over  600  prisoners.  I  would  not  have  believed  that  such 
a  set  of  men  could  be  found  in  the  United  States.  They  were 
not  in  any  kind  of  uniform  and  had  been  made  to  believe  that 
we  would  hang  all  the  prisoners  and  kill  the  wounded.  We 
moved  on  to  Richmond,  day  before  yesterday,  having  a 
tremendous  march.  That  afternoon  more  than  300  men  fell 
out.  Yesterday  we  marched  six  or  eight  miles,  halting  at 
noon  to  allow  the  wagons  to  come  up.  I  am  on  guard  at  the 
house  of  a  Union  man,  protecting  his  property.  He  says 
that  Rebel  officers  have  ridden  all  round  to  see  who  would 
go  or  who  had  gone  to  the  war;  at  such  times  all  the  men 
would  run  into  the  woods.  It  is  hard  to  make  the  people 
believe  that  Confederate  money  wrhich  lately  was  worth  90 
per  cent  its  face  value  is  today  worth  nothing.  They  were 
paying  $2.00  a  pound  for  salt;  for  sugar  $0.60  to  $1.00,  while 
coffee  brought  $1.25.  It  would  seem  that  our  blockade  is 
not  so  much  like  paper,  after  all.  We  have  very  little  time 
for  writing  letters,  because  the  Rebels  run  so  and  we  have  to 
follow.  We  are  about  45  miles  from  Richmond.  * 

If  I  live,  I  will  write  to  you  at  home  from  Richmond 
next  Saturday  or  Sunday. 

Merrill  got  no  nearer  Richmond  than  Fair  Oaks,  so  the  letter 
from  the  Confederate  Capital  was  not  written,  but  somewhere 
in  the  universe,  his  disenthralled  spirit  has  doubtless  com 
muned  with  that  of  his  grandmother,  long  ere  this. 

At  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  13th,  camp  was 
broken  and  the  long  line  moved  slowly  forward,  constantly 
impeded  by  the  wagon  trains  which  all  knew  to  be  essential 
to  their  welfare,  but  so  great  was  their  hinderance  that  when  at 


MAY  14,  '62  NEW  KENT  COURT  HOUSE  83 

night  a  halt  was  made  at  New  Kent  Court  House,  the  Regi 
ment  had  marched  only  ten  miles  from  the  starting  point. 
On  the  14th  and  15th  the  Regiment  did  picket  duty  in  the 
midst  of  a  drenching  rain.  Much  vexation  arose  from  the 
constant  alarms  given  by  the  mounted  picket  from  the  Eighth 
Pa.  who  kept  running  in,  stating  that  the  enemy  was  advancing, 
thus  keeping  us  in  line  the  most  of  the  time.  Morning  light 
revealed  the  interesting  fact  that  one  company  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vanians  had  been  scared  by  another  company  of  the  same 
regiment.  Very  few  able-bodied  men  were  seen  among  the 
natives,  they  were  in  the  Rebel  army;  some  of  the  wounded 
and  sick  had  returned  to  their  homes,  but  they  were  not  given 
to  answering  questions.  Many  of  the  houses  had  little  white 
flags  hanging  from  the  windows  or  stuck  up  in  the  door  yards. 
The  boys  called  them  "Flags  of  mercy,"  and  the  property  so 
marked  was  generally  respected.  Sometimes  we  were  cheated 
as  at  James  City,  where  we  saved  the  fences  of  a  poor  lone 
widow  only  to  learn  the  next  morning  that  her  husband  was 
in  the  Rebel  army  and  that  she  was  "Secesh"  through  and 
through. 

The  Tenth  withdrew  from  the  picket  line  about  9.00  a.  m. 
of  the  16th,  undertaking  to  guard  the  Chickahominy  Creek 
road  and  to  rest  at  the  same  time;  the  remainder  of  the 
Division  passed  on  towards  Richmond.  At  4.00  p.  m.  we'also 
started  forward  to  Baltimore  Cross  Roads,  about  four  miles 
nearer  Richmond,  passing  large  strawberry  fields  on  the  way. 
The  enemy  managed  to  keep  about  just  so  far  ahead  of  us, 
so  that  we  did  not  clash,  though  there  was  an  occasional 
cavalry  skirmish.  Two  miles  further,  on  the  18th,  brought 
us  to  Crumps  Cross  Roads,  decidedly  the  dirtiest  camping 
place  yet.  Ex-Secretary  of  the  Treasury  in  Buchanan's 
Cabinet,  Howell  Cobb,  with  his  Georgia  Legion,  had  occupied 
the  camp  only  a  day  or  two  before  and,  while  the  sword  of 
an  officer  was  found  and  exploited  as  a  trophy,  many  of  the 
boys  found  live  things  of  a  creepy  nature  which  occasioned 
no  little  discomfort. 


84  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

The  18th  was  Sunday  and  literally  a  day  of  rest  to  the  tired 
men  who  had  a  whole  day  in  camp  with  nothing  to  do  but 
clean  up  guns  and  equipments.  There  was  a  dress  parade  at 
nightfall  and  prayer  by  the  Chaplain  of  the  First  U.S.  Chas 
seurs  (65th  N.  Y.,  1st  Brig.),  that  officer  of  the  Tenth  having 
resigned  May  1st,  just  as  the  Regiment  was  taking  the  field. 
In  this  connection,  it  is  recalled  that  a  member  of  Company  A 
somewhat  inclined  to  levity,  with  hat  in  hand  called  on  the 
Colonel  one  day  and  solemnly  asked  if  the  Regiment  could 
not  draw  funds  from  the  Government  for  Company  use,  to  the 
value  of  the  Chaplain's  prayers  they  were  no  longer  receiv 
ing?  History  is  not  enriched  with  the  officer's  reply.  The 
road  to  Richmond  was  growing  shorter,  for  three  miles  were 
whittled  of!  on  the  19th,  as  the  march  lead  to  the  line  of  rail 
road  from  West  Point  to  the  Capital,  the  camp  being  close  up 
to  the  enemy's  picket,  whose  proximity  did  not  prevent 
inspection  and  a  light  battalion  drill  on  the  following  after 
noon.  As  the  foe  was  regularly  falling  back,  it  was  possible 
to  advance  still  two  more  miles  on  the  21st.  At  the  close  of 
day,  Captain  Smart  with  Company  B  and  Captain  Newell  with 
Company  I  were  detailed  for  outpost  duty,  relieving  Captain 
Bliss  of  the  Seventh  Massachusetts.  Darkness  was  falling 
when  the  men  undertook  to  cross  the  railroad  bridge  over 
the  Chickahominy.  Forty  feet  of  the  same,  or  that  part 
spanning  the  channel  had  been  burned,  hence  the  crossing 
was  effected  on  planks  laid  upon  the  trestle,  though  a  knee-* 
deep  wade  in  the  river  was  necessary  to  reach  the  place  whence 
the  enemy  was  watched  during  the  night. 

With  the  22d  came  a  straightening  of  the  picket  line  and 
an  advance  of  half  a  mile,  with  headquarters  at  the  deserted 
Pry  or  house.  The  cavalry  picket  of  the  enemy  was  near 
enough  to  draw  our  fire  at  times  and  in  some  of  the  houses 
the  dwellers  were  found  to  be  entirely  colored,  the  previous 
residents  having  left  hurriedly  for  Richmond.  Though  guards 
were  placed  over  the  property,  it  was  noticed  that  said  guards 
had  appropriated  many  an  item  of  household  use,  under  the 
pretext  of  saving  it.  One  farm  house  had  a  large  representa- 


MAY  23,  '62  SEVEN  PINES  85 

tion  of  women  and  live  stock,  but  mankind  was  wanting. 
A  miller,  at  that  time  exempt  from  service  on  account  of  his 
occupation,  was  put  under  guard  lest  he  communicate  with 
the  Rebels.  At  his  house  was  found  a  document  from  the 
Confederate  headquarters  directed  to  the  "first  Union  officer 
who  arrives."  Within  the  paper,  was  found  a  letter  directed 
to  Adj.  General  Williams  of  the  U.S.  Army,  the  same  relating 
to  flags  of  truce.  During  the  night  there  was  occasional 
exchange  of  shot  with  the  foe  who  was  on  the  railroad  just  out 
of  rifle  range. 

Bottom's  Bridge  was  crossed  on  the  23d,  the  picket  com 
panies  having  been  called  in  about  four  o'clock;  meanwhile 
the  50th  New  York  Engineers,  aided  by  the  Pioneers,  among 
whom  were  certain  men  of  the  Tenth,  were  working  busily 
in  repairing  the  railroad  bridge  across  the  river.  Only  twelve 
miles  from  Richmond  was  the  record  for  the  24th,  with  the 
Tenth  at  9.00  a.  m.  supporting  Naglee's  Brigade  of  Casey's 
Division,  (3d)  on  a  reconnoissance.  There  was  considerable 
cannonading  at  the  front,  the  Seventh  New  York  Battery 
engaging  one  of  the  enemy's,  but  ours  being  served  the  better 
the  Rebels  withdrew.  At  2.00  p.  m.  Casey's  full  Division 
came  up  so  the  Tenth  retired,  thoroughly  soaked  by  the  rain 
which  was  as  usual  in  evidence.  "Still  nearing  Richmond," 
for  on  the  25th,  at  9.00  a.  m.  we  reached  Seven  Pines,  said  to 
be  seven  and  a  half  miles  away,  while  the  enemy,  strongly 
fortified,  was  reported  three  miles  off.  Extra  baggage  and 
the  wagon  train  were  sent  back  across  the  river.  Though  the 
26th  brought  on  no  overt  act,  everyone  was  on  the  alert. 
The  next  day,  notwithstanding  falling  rain,  the  whole  Divi 
sion  worked  hard  at  throwing  up  rifle  pits  and  felling  trees 
for  abatis,  while  heavy  firing  was  heard  in  the  direction  of 
Porter's  Division,  that  having  the  extreme  right  of  the  line. 

At  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  28th  all  of  the  am 
bulances  were  ordered  to  the  right,  an  indication  of  fighting 
in  that  direction.  At  11.00  a.  m.  our  Regiment  with  the  First 
U.  S.  Chasseurs  (65th  N.  Y.)  started  on  a  reconnoissance  of 
the  enemy's  position,  passing  through  the  outer  line  of  Union 


86  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

pickets.  The  latter  were  from  Casey's  (3d)  Division  and  their 
carelessness  was  largely  the  cause  of  the  fierce  attack  three 
days  later.  Nearly  every  post  had  a  fire  whose  smoke  plainly 
indicated  to  the  foe  where  his  adversary  was.  We  actually 
saw  men  sitting  down  with  their  backs  towards  Richmond, 
reading  dime  novels,  while  their  guns  were  standing  against 
the  trees,  the  enemy's  picket  being  not  a  hundred  rods  away. 
As  soon  as  the  reconnoissance  was  discovered,  fire  was  opened 
upon  it  by  a  six  pound  battery,  though  no  damage  was  done, 
the  shells  exploding  harmlessly  among  the  trees,  and  before 
better  range  could  be  obtained  we  withdrew,  the  object  of 
the  trip  having  been  secured.  How  leisurely  the  excursion 
was  made  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact  that  during  the 
firing,  George  Conners  of  Company  I  was  sitting  behind  a 
tree  which  was  hit  by  one  of  the  missiles,  jarring  it  pretty 
thoroughly.  "Be  jabers,"  said  the  astonished  Irishman,  "I 
was  on  the  right  side  of  the  tree  that  time."  On  acquainting 
the  engineer  officers  with  the  result  of  the  observations,  the 
Regiment  returned  to  camp. 

The  camp  went  forward  yet  another  mile  on  the  29th,  and 
supplies  were  brought  directly  from  White  House  landing  by 
rail,  much  to  the  delight  of  the  hungry  men.  At  the  same 
time  the  whistling  of  locomotives  could  be  heard  as  the  Rebels 
brought  their  necessities  from  Richmond,  both  forces  really 
using  the  same  railroad,  and  just  beyond  Fair  Oaks  station 
the  track  was  obstructed,  thus  preventing  the  enemy  from 
running  anything  down  to  injure  our  trains.  The  30th  of  May 
found  the  line  close  up  to  that  of  the  enemy  with  guns  stacked, 
to  be  seized  at  a  moment's  warning.  Just  to  make  things 
seem  natural,  rain  began  to  fall  at  5.00  p.  m.  and  continued 
with  thunder  and  lightning  till  after  midnight.  Of  this  storm 
it  has  been  said  that  the  rain  came  down  in  tropical  torrents 
and  the  lightning  played,  not  in  flashes,  but  in  sheets  of 
flame,  at  times  seeming  to  involve  the  entire  bivouac  in  its 
jurid  glare.  One  of  the  Excelsior  Brigade  officers  described 
the  electric  fire  as  running  again  and  again  along  the  lines 
of  stacked  muskets,  tipping  the  points  of  the  bayonets  with 


MAY  31,  '62  FAIR  OAKS  87 

flashes  like  jets  of  gas.  The  31st  and  last  day  of  the  month, 
so  fateful  in  the  story  of  the  Tenth,  began  as  did  many  others 
with  a  detail  of  the  Regiment  for  fatigue  work  on  the  roads 
which  were  in  a  frightful  condition  on  account  of  the  rains. 
Three  companies,  A,  K  and  E,  were  doing  picket  duty  on  the 
extreme  left,  in  which  condition  noon  arrived  and,  soon  after, 
the  beginning  of  the 

FAIR  OAKS  OR  SEVEN  PINES 

Union  and  Confederate  writers  have  long  called  the  same 
engagement  by  different  names.  Thus  our  First  Bull  Run 
is  their  Manassas;  the  Second  Bull  Run  is  Groveton  in  their 
annals,  while  sanguinary  Antietam  becomes  the  terrible  battle 
of  Sharpsburg  when  named  by  southern  people.-  Fair  Oaks 
was  and  is  a  station  on  the  Richmond  and  York  River  R.  R., 
near  which  Couch's  Division  was  formed,  while  of  the  other 
name,  Gen.  G.  W.  Smith  of  the  Confederates  says,  "Where 
the  Williamsburg  '  Old  Stage '  road  is  intersected  by  the  Nine 
Mile  road,  at  a  point  seven  miles  east  of  Richmond,  was  fought 
the  first  great  contest  between  the  Confederate  Army  of 
Northern  Virginia  and  the  Federal  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
The  junction  of  these  two  roads  is  called  Seven  Pines."  To 
and  beyond  this  point,  about  one  mile  southeast  of  Fair  Oaks, 
Couch's  line  extended  while  Casey's  was  further  towards  the 
front  and  left.  An  old  time  war  sketch  shows  seven  large  pine 
trees  standing  in  front  of  an  old  country  tavern,  hence  the 
appellation.  Of  the  magnitude  and  importance  of  the  battle 
General  E.  D.  Keyes  in  his  "Memoirs"  remarks,  "The  battle 
of  Fair  Oaks  was  one  of  the  most  sanguinary  of  the  war,  and 
considering  the  isolation  of  the  combatants  due  to  an  unex 
pected  rise  of  the  Chickahominy,  the  Union  cause  was  in  greater 
danger  on  the  81st  of  May,  1862,  than  at  any  other  battle 
except  Gettysburg."  He  also  says  that  in  all  the  numerous 
histories  of  the  battle  he  has  failed  to  find  a  "tolerably  fair 
account"  of  the  same.  But  the  General  wrote  before  1884, 
since  which  time  much  has  been  written  concerning  this  and 
all  other  encounters  of  the  war,  including  the  voluminous 


88  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Government  publication  of  reports  and  documents  number 
ing  more  than  a  hundred  volumes.  The  story  of  Fair  Oaks 
alone,  as  told  in  Vol.  XI,  Part  I,  Series  I,  fills  247  closely 
printed  pages.  It  at  once  becomes  evident  that  a  brief 
epitome  of  the  battle  with  a  presentation  of  the  part  borne  by 
the  Tenth,  on  that  last  day  of  May,  is  the  best  that  this  history 
can  offer. 

The  advance  of  the  Union  forces  up  the  Peninsula  had  met 
no  settled  resistance  of  the  enemy  save  at  Williamsburg,  and 
in  no  instance  had  there  been  any  determined  aggressive  act 
on  his  part.  Apparently  the  retreat  had  reached  the  point 
and  condition  where  General  Joe  Johnston,  the  Confederate 
commander,  saw  his  opportunity  and  he  was  quick  to  seize  it. 
The  Third  Corps,  under  Heintzelman,  and  the  Fourth  under 
Keyes  were  on  the  south  side  of  the  Chickahominy,  the  Fourth 
(two  divisions)*  holding  the  right  of  the  position  as  stated 
above.  The  semi-detached  condition  of  these  twro  corps 
appealed  to  the  military  eye  of  Johnston  and  it  is  claimed 
that  the  attack  was  ordered  before  the  sudden  rise  of  the  river 
gave  him  his  exceptional  opportunity.  A  reconnoissance  in 
force  on  the  29th  and  30th  had  informed  him  of  the  position 
and  strength  of  the  Union  forces.  Keyes's  Corps,  several 
miles  from  that  of  Heintzelman,  was  practically  isolated;  the 
Chickahominy,  swollen  by  the  succession  of  cloud  bursts,  had 
become  a  wide  and  rushing  river,  seemingly  shutting  off  all 
chance  of  succor  from  the  north  side  and  the  Confederate 
commander  had  five  strong  divisions  well  in  hand  for  his 
purpose.  As  Keyes  had  but  12,000  men  the  Rebel  line  far 
overlapped  that  of  the  Federals,  D.  H.  Hill's  Division  leading 
the  attack,  followed  by  Longstreet  and  finally  by  G.  W.  Smith. 

The  leading  Union  officers  were  by  no  means  unprepared 
for  the  assault.  General  Keyes  had  visited  the  lines  and 
admonished  them  to  be  on  their  guard,  while  that  morning  Lieu- 


*May  15th.  Franklin's  Division  of  the  First  and  Smith's  of  the 
Fourth  Corps  had  been  joined  to  form  the  Sixth  Corps  under  command 
of  Gen.  Wm.  B.  Franklin,  hence  the  fact  that  only  Couch's  and  Casey's 
were  at  Fair  Oaks 


MAY  31,  '62  FAIR  OAKS  89 

tenant  Washington,  an  aide  of  Johnston,  had  been  captured, 
whose  peculiar  conduct  satisfied  General  Casey  that  something 
more  than  the  ordinary  impended.  It  was  soon  after  noon 
that  the  bursting  of  two  hostile  shells  gave  warning  that 
the  ball  had  begun.  So  abrupt  and  overwhelming  was  the 
attack,  all  in  front  of  the  main  line  was  swept  away  and  that 
too,  in  spite  of  a  counter  charge  by  Naglee,  was  soon  forced 
backward,  thus  leaving  Couch's  Division  in  front  and  here 
came  the  struggles  of  the  Tenth  Regiment.  Heintzelman, 
nominally  in  command  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  for  more 
than  two  hours  was  not  heard  from,  but  at  last  hurried  battle- 
ward,  trying  to  halt  the  men  straggling  from  the  field  and 
sending  Kearney  ahead  with  his  division.  It  was  while  the 
one-armed  hero  was  working  havoc  in  the  ranks  of  the  enemy 
that  the  incident  took  place  which  the  poet,  Stedman,  has 
embalmed  in  verse  under  the  title  of  "Kearney  at  Seven  Pines." 
One  of  his  regiments  appeared  at  a  double  quick  with  a 
characteristic  inquiry  as  to  where  they  should  go  in.  The 
poetry  reads: 

"Up  came  the  reserve  to  the  melee  infernal 

Saying,  'Where  shall  we  go  in,  the  open  or  pine?' 

'Oh,  anywhere,  Forward!     'Tis  all  the  same  Colonel, 
You'll  find  lovely  fighting  along  the  whole  line."1 

The  coming  of  Kearney  and  his  men  did  much  to  inspirit 
the  hard-pressed  soldiers  of  the  Fourth  Corps,  but  the  coming 
of  this  aid  from  the  Third  Corps  was  soon  followed  by  fresh 
accessions  to  the  attacking  forces  so  the  battle  raged  all  the 
harder,  with  a  gradual  forcing  back  of  the  Union  lines  till  the 
Confederates,  flushed  with  seemingly  assured  victory,  were 
astounded  at  a  fierce  enfilading  fire  from  their  left.  Sumner, 
following  the  military  maxim  of  marching  to  the  sound  of  the 
enemy's  guns  had  achieved  the  apparently  impossible  and 
under  the  most  difficult  conditions  had  taken  his  Second 
Corps  across  the  almost  floating  bridge  when  his  engineers 
said  it  could  not  be  done.  "  But  I've  got  to  go  over,"  was  the 
sole  response  of  the  doughty  chief  and  over  he  went  with  his 
gallant  followers  in  time  to  stem  the  tide  of  Confederate 


90  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

success  and  by  dint  of  the  hardest  kind  of  fighting  hold  the 
ground.  Said  General  Couch  as  the  relief  appeared,  "I  felt 
that  God  was  with  us  and  the  victory  ours."  About  sunset 
the  Confederate  commander,  General  Johnston  was  severely 
wounded  and  was  borne  from  the  field,  having  been  hit  by  the 
fragment  of  a  shell,  the  command  thereupon  devolving  on 
Gen.  G.  W.  Smith.  A  sudden  change  had  come  upon  the 
enemy;  at  four  o'clock  he  was  exultant,  at  dark  his  mirth  had 
changed  to  gloom,  and  confusion  reigned. 

With  the  second  day's  fight  our  Regiment  had  nothing  to  do. 
Other  troops  pushed  the  enemy  back  until  all  of  the  lost  ground 
was  regained,  the  foe  being  in  full  retreat  and  here  it  was  that 
Hooker  expressed  his  ability  to  capture  Richmond. 

Such  was  the  great  battle  in  outline ;  the  part  borne  by  the 
Tenth  Regiment  is  best  told  by  Captain  Newell  and  others 
who  had  their  part  in  the  struggle.  The  Captain  says: 

The  battle  came  upon  us  like  a  clap  of  thunder  from  a  clear 
sky.  The  first  intimation  received  was  a  furious  and  incessant 
firing  just  in  front  of  us,  and  was  occasioned  by  the  enemy 
falling  like  an  avalanche  on  General  Casey's  position.  The 
men  were  in  line,  and  muskets  were  seized  in  less  time  than  it 
takes  to  write  it.  It  seems  the  enemy  took  this  particular 
time  for  the  attack  as  they  knew  but  two  divisions  of  the 
army  were  across  the  river,  the  remainder  being  some  nine 
miles  away.  Down  they  came  through  Casey's  pickets,  and 
on  to  his  main  line  like  a  thunderbolt,  carrying  everything 
before  them,  and  the  Tenth  was  hardly  in  line  before  Casey's 
stragglers  commenced  pouring  down  the  road  to  the  rear. 
Notwithstanding  the  seriousness  of  the  situation,  Captain 
Bigelow  of  F,  then  Second  Lieutenant,  seeing  General  Casey 
raging  among  his  retreating  men,  hat  less,  his  white  hair 
streaming  in  the  wind,  vainly  trying,  with  the  wildest  exhorta 
tions,  to  rally  his  disordered  troops,  turning  to  a  fellow  officer, 
said,  ''Did  you  ever  see  an  old  woman  when  her  suds  were 
boiling  over?"  "No.  Why?"  came  back  the  reply.  "Well, 
look  at  old  Casey,  he  puts  me  in  mind  of  one."  The  Tenth 
was  now  ordered  forward  about  eighty  rods  to  some  rifle  pits 
that  had  been  previously  thrown  up.  Finding  the  pits  filled 
with  water,  they  dropped  down  in  the  rear  of  them,  the  earth 
in  front  forming  a  partial  shelter.  The  Seventh  Regiment 


MAY  31,  '62  FAIR  OAKS  91 

and  McCarthy's  Battery  were  some  distance  in  the  rear  of  the 
Tenth,  on  slightly  elevated  ground,  and  to  the  left  was  the 
36th  New  York.  At  this  place  the  firing  was  brisk  for  some 
time,  the  Tenth  lying  flat  on  the  wet  ground,  and  the  batteries 
of  both  sides  firing  over  their  heads.  A  number  of  men  were 
wounded  at  this  time,  from  defective  shells  from  our  own 
batteries,  and  from  the  shots  of  the  enemy.  Private  Roy  of 
Company  F,  had  a  large  piece  of  flesh  scooped  out  of  his 
shoulder  by  a  defective  shell  from  our  side.  The  55th  New 
York  was  ordered  up,  and  took  position  in  a  slashing  in  front 
of  the  Tenth,  and  commenced  firing.  They  found  this  an 
extremely  hot  place,  and  in  a  few  minutes  they  began  to 
melt  away,  and  those  that  were  left  fell  back  before  the  murder 
ous  fire  of  the  enemy.  At  this  juncture  the  Tenth  was  moved 
forward  some  twenty-five  rods,  where  they  formed  line  of 
battle  on  the  north  side  of  a  narrow  strip  of  cleared  land,  and 
just  in  the  rear  of  the  position  just  left  by  the  55th  New  York. 
Still  further  north  was  the  long  line  of  Rebel  infantry.  This 
was  an  unfortunate  position  for  the  Tenth.  While  the  men  of 
the  right  and  left  of  the  regimental  line  could  plainly  see  the 
enemy,  the  whole  center,  although  suffering  from  the  musketry 
could  not  see  the  foe  by  reason  of  the  high  bushes  and  brush 
in  their  front,  and  could  only  fire  by  guesswork  at  the  enemy's 
position.  While  thus  situated,  the  left  companies  discovered 
that  our  line  was  being  flanked  on  the  left,  and  that  a  line  facing 
the  east  had  been  formed  in  the  woods,  a  short  distance  from 
the  left  flank  of  the  Tenth,  completely  enfilading  that  line. 
The  Regiment  then  fell  back,  firing  all  the  time  until  they 
reached  their  camp ;  again  moved  forward  as  far  as  the  rifle 
pits.  From  here  they  followed  General  Keyes  across  the  road 
to  a  position  considerably  to  the  right  of  any  they  had  previ 
ously  occupied,  and  again  engaged  the  enemy,  firing  volley 
after  volley  with  great  rapidity.  As  the  General  com 
plimented  the  men  on  their  excellent  order  and  discipline, 
Michael  Moffatt,  "F,"  gave  a  fine  illustration  of  Irish  wit  and 
politeness,  saying,  "How  could  we  help  it,  General,  when  you 
set  us  such  a  good  example."  Here  Colonel  Briggs  was 
wounded,  shot  through  both  thighs  while  in  front  of  his 
Regiment.  Colonel  Briggs  was  wounded  about  five  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon,  and  was  on  foot  at  the  time.  When  the 
Regiment  was  ordered  to  the  rifle  pits,  he  had  dismounted  for 
the  purpose  of  being  with  them,  leaving  his  horse  in  the 
vicinity,  but  when  he  came  to  look  for  it,  it  was  gone,  and  the 
Colonel  remained  on  foot  the  remainder  of  the  engagement. 


92  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

After  he  was  wounded,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Decker  being  laid 
up  with  rheumatism,  and  Major  Marsh  being  absent,  the  com 
mand  devolved  upon  Captain  Miller,  as  the  senior  officer 
present.  He  instantly  rallied  the  men  on  colors,  and  formed 
line  of  battle,  his  left  resting  upon  the  road,  and  immediately 
became  hotly  engaged  with  the  enemy.  He  held  his  ground 
until  dark,  keeping  the  foe  in  check  until  the  arrival  of  re 
inforcements.  This  last  rally  was  one  of  the  fiercest  of  the 
day,  and  many  gallant  men  were  here  killed  or  mortally 
wounded.  Here  Company  H  suffered  most  severely,  as  its 
flank  rested  on  the  road  in  full  sight  of  the  enemy.  For  his 
merit orious  and  gallant  conduct  on  this  occasion,  Captain 
Miller  received  richly  deserved  commendation  and  praise 
from  his  superior  officers. 

Capt.  Joseph  B.  Parsons  was  wounded  early  in  the  engage 
ment,  one  ball  hitting  him  on  the  head,  and  another  passing 
through  the  right  leg  above  the  knee,  between  the  bone  and 
the  artery.  The  heavy  firing  from  the  rebels  made  it  impos 
sible  to  carry  off  the  wounded,  and  they  remained  where  they 
fell  during  the  continuance  of  the  fighting.  Captain.  Parsons 
crawled  behind  a  small  stump  and  lay  down,  and  at  times 
the  Rebels  were  quite  near  him.  He  expected  every  moment 
to  be  captured,  or  hit  again  by  the  bullets  that  were  whizzing 
through  the  air  around  him.  Fortunately  the  Rebels  were 
repulsed,  and  he  was  saved.  During  the  engagement,  a  squad 
of  men  came  along  and  Captain  Parsons  asked  one  of  them  to 
let  down  the  fence  so  he  could  crawl  through,  hoping  to  make 
his  escape  under  the  protection  of  the  felled  trees  in  the  adjoin 
ing  lot,  but  the  soldiers  were  after  the  Rebs  and  would  not 
stop.  F.  O.  Hillman,  of  Company  C,  carried  Captain  Parsons 
to  the  rear,  and  he  was  again  removed  by  Sergeant  Bishop. 

Capt.  Edwin  E.  Day,  of  Greenfield,  was  wounded  early  in 
the  fight,  and  was  being  carried  from  the  field  by  two  men, 
when  a  shot  killed  Captain  Day  and  wounded  both  the  men. 
The  enemy  had  possession  of  this  part  of  the  field,  for  a  time, 
and  took  from  Captain  Day's  person  $150.00  in  money,  his 
gold  watch,  and  his  shoulder  straps. 

Captain  Smart  met  a  most  brutal  death.  He  had  been 
firing  a  carbine  which  he  carried  from  Brightwood,  and  had 
no  shoulder  straps,  or  other  mark,  to  distinguish  him  from  a 
private  soldier.  He  fell  severely  wounded  in  the  leg,  and  when 
the  Rebels  came  up,  had  some  words  with  one  of  them,  who, 
picking  up  his  carbine,  shot  him  through  the  neck,  saying, 
"There,  take  that,  you  damned  Yankee."  His  pocket  was 


MAY  31,  '62  FAIR  OAKS  93 

rifled  of  a  gold  watch.  He  had  $150.00  in  a  breast  pocket 
which  they  did  not  find. 

Lieutenant  Leland,  of  Company  H,  was  mortally  wounded 
through  the  abdomen,  and  died  the  next  morning  in  the 
hospital.  He  was  a  brave  officer,  and  Christian  soldier,  and 
was  lamented  by  his  Company  and  fellow  officers. 

Sergeant  Braman,  of  Company  C,  was  wounded  in  one  leg, 
and  while  being  taken  from  the  field,  a  cannon  ball  took  off 
one  shoulder.  This  occurred  about  four  o'clock,  and  he  lived 
until  eight  and  was  buried  on  Sunday. 

Sergeant  Whitney,  of  Company  C,  was  wounded  while 
attempting  to  bring  Captain  Day's  body  off  the  field. 

First  Sergeant  Cutler,  of  Company  H,  was  killed  in  the  last 
stand  made  by  the  Regiment,  at  the  head  of  his  Company. 

The  flag  of  the  Regiment  was  carried  through  the  engage 
ment  by  Sergt.  James  Knox,  of  Company  I,  a  gallant  soldier, 
who  was  promoted  to  a  second  lieutenancy  immediately  after 
the  battle.  The  flag  was  shot  through  and  through  repeatedly, 
and  the  clothing  of  the  bearer  was  torn  in  several  places  by 
shot;  yet,  strange  to  relate,  he  escaped  without  a  scratch  on 
his  person. 

About  half-past  four  in  the  afternoon  reinforcements  began 
to  arrive,  led  by  the  gallant  Kearney,  who  immediately  formed 
on  the  left  of  the  line,  and  checked  the  further  advance  of  the 
enemy,  who  lay  all  night  in  what  had  been  the  camp  of  the 
Tenth.  Before  dark  the  Regiment  was  relieved  and  took 
position  in  the  rifle  pits  thrown  up  some  days  before  the 
attack. 

The  Regimental  band  labored  hard  and  faithfully  in  carry 
ing  off  and  assisting  the  wounded  on  the  field.  In  doing  this 
work,  they  were  exposed  fully  as  much  as  the  troops.  Early 
in  the  engagement,  they  took  position  directly  in  the  rear 
of  the  Regiment,  which  brought  them  under  fire  of  the  artillery 
of  both  armies.  Generals  came  along  and  told  them  they  were 
needlessly  exposing  themselves,  and  our  artillery  men  in  the 
rear,  swore  at  them  for  being  in  the  way,  and  for  a  time  it 
seemed  there  would  be  nothing  for  them  to  do,  but  stand  up 
and  be  shot  at.  They  soon  found  employment  in  caring  for 
the  wounded,  and  plenty  of  it  to  keep  them  busy  all  the 
afternoon.  While  engaged  in  this  duty,  Albert  Ingraham 
received  an  ugly  wound  in  the  shoulder,  from  a  piece  of  shell, 
which  passed  through  his  body,  and  out  near  the  backbone. 

It  was  the  day  after  the  battle  that  Drummer-Boy  Walker 
of  Company  C  made  his  acquaintance  with  General  McClellan. 


94  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

The  boy  was  using  his  well  smoked  cup  in  filling  his  canteen 
from  a  convenient  spring  when  the  Commander,  riding  by, 
asked  for  a  drink,  which,  of  course,  he  got,  though  the  lad 
apologized  profusely  for  the  battered  condition  of  his  cup,  but 
the  General,  making  one  of  the  ready  replies  for  which  he  was 
noted,  never  failing  to  win  thereby  the  lifelong  fealty  of  his 
men,  road  away  leaving  an  ardent  admirer  behind.* 

Report  of  Col.  Henry  S.  Briggs,  Tenth  Massachusetts 
Infantry,  to  Lieut.  Byron  Porter,  A.  A.  A.  G.,  Devens's  Brigade, 
Couch's  Division,  Fourth  A.  C. : 

Pittsfield,  Mass.,  June  9,  1862. 

SIR:  I  have  the  honor  to  submit  the  following  report  of 
the  part  taken  in  the  battle  near  the  Seven  Pines,  on  Saturday, 
the  31st  of  May,  by  the  Tenth  Regiment  Massachusetts  Vol 
unteers,  then  under  my  command. 

I  received  the  order  to  have  my  command  under  arms,  about 
ten  o'clock,  immediately  upon  my  return  from  visiting  the 
outposts,  on  my  tour  as  general  officer  of  the  day.  About 
1.00  p.m.  I  had  just  left  the  103d  Pennsylvania,  at  the  Deserted 
Huts,  so  called,  on  the  wood  road  leading  southerly,  from  the 
intersection  of  the  Williamsburg  road  and  the  Nine  Mile  road 
and  had  been  informed  by  Colonel  McCarter,  commanding 
the  93d  Pennsylvania,  then  in  motion,  that  he  was  proceeding 
to  the  same  vicinity,  with  his  command.  After  having 
reported  their  disposition  to  the  General  commanding  the 
division,  my  Regiment  was  at  first  moved  from  its  encamp 
ment  to  a  position  behind  the  Nine  Mile  road,  with  the  left 
on  the  Williamsburg  road,  and  soon  after  to  the  left,  across 
the  last-named  road,  and  behind  the  rifle  pits  made  in  echelon 
of  companies.  The  pits  were  full  of  water,  and  could  not  be 
occupied  without  damaging  the  ammunition  of  the  men, 
carried  in  their  boxes  and  pockets.  The  men  were  required 
to  lie  down,  to  avail  themselves  of  the  slight  cover  afforded  by 
the  earth  excavated  from  the  pits.  While  they  lay  there,  a  num 
ber  were  wounded  by  the  shell  and  case  of  the  enemy,  and 


*Years  afterward,  when  Walker  was  a  man  of  business  in  California 
and  the  General  was  visiting  there,  the  two  met  and  naturally  con 
versation  drifted  to  the  Peninsula  and  Fair  Oaks,  and  the  old-time 
drummer  boy  asked  his  chief  if  he  recalled  getting  a  drink  of  water 
from  a  lad,  the  morning  after  the  fight.  "Yes,"  replied  McClellan, 
"  I  remember  it  well,  but  I  got  it  from  a  'so  year  old,"  holding  his  hand 
about  three  feet  or  so  from  the  floor.  "Well,"  said  Myron,  "I  was 
the  'so  year  old  that  gave  you  the  drink  of  water."  With  such  an 
introduction,  conversation  was  easy  for  an  indefinite  period 


MAY  31,  '62  FAIR  OAKS  9.5 

some  from  our  own  battery,  posted  immediately  in  our  rear. 
From  the  rifle  pits,  which  we  occupied  some  fifteen  or  twenty 
minutes,  and  until  the  fire  from  the  front  had  nearly  ceased, 
I  was  ordered,  by  General  Keyes,  to  proceed  with  my  command 
up  the  road,  and'  to  form  a  line  near  the  large  wood  pile,  in  front 
of  the  abatis. 

I  proceeded  at  once  to  execute  the  order,  and  the  head  of 
my  column  had  advanced  a  few  yards  within  the  abatis, 
when  I  observed  that  the  enemy  had,  in  large  force,  formed 
upon  the  same  position,  nearly,  to  which  I  was  ordered,  and 
that  he  was  placing  in  position,  a  battery  to  sweep  the  road. 
The  General  commanding  the  brigade,  at  this  moment  came 
up  and  was  informed,  for  the  first  time,  of  my  orders.  At  this 
point,  on  the  left  of  the  road,  there  was  a  small  oblong-shaped 
open  space,  about  thirty  yards  wide,  and  long  enough  to  form 
five  of  the  seven  companies  in  line,  fronting  the  enemy. 
Having  communicated  this  to  the  General  commanding  the 
brigade,  I  obtained  authority  to  form  in  this  space,  and  pro 
ceeded  to  do  so,  placing  two  of  the  right  companies  on  the 
right  of  the  road,  in  the  slashing,  in  prolongation  of  my  line. 
The  space  was  so  narrow  that  the  line  could  only  be  formed 
on  the  right  by  files.  The  formation  was  scarcely  completed, 
when  a  severe  fire  was  opened  on  my  left  flank,  from  the  woods 
and  underbrush,  not  more  than  fifty  paces  distant.  It  was 
so  severe  that  the  line  was  broken,  and  the  narrowness  of  the 
open  space  made  it  impossible  to  change  front,  although  I 
endeavored  to  move  one  or  two  companies  to  the  rear,  so  as 
to  face  the  flank  attacked.  Finding  my  efforts  unavailing,  I 
gave  the  order  to  retreat,  firing,  but  a  considerable  portion  of 
the  Regiment  having  broken,  under  instructions  from  the 
General  of  the  brigade,  I  gave  the  order  to  retreat.  The  only 
route  being  by  the  road  up  which  we  had  advanced,  I  was 
compelled  to  leave  a  considerable  number  of  killed  and 
wounded. 

Captain  Day  fell  here,  fighting  in  close  conflict,  and  almost 
hand  to  hand  with  the  enemy.  He  was  at  first  only  disabled 
by  a  wound  in  the  leg,  but  received  a  mortal  shot,  while  being 
borne  away  by  his  men.  Captain  Parsons  also  fell,  wounded 
in  the  thigh  and  head,  while  in  the  act  of  repeating  a  command, 
just  given  by  me,  to  change  the  front  of  his  company.  The 
position  amounted  to  an  ambuscade,  and  I  believe  that  no 
troops  could  be  expected  to  stand  the  close  and  overwhelming 
fire,  that  surprised  our  left  flank  and  rear.  After  being  broken, 
and  retreating  from  this  position,  the  Regiment  wras  readily 


96  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

reformed  near  its  place  of  encampment.  Soon  after,  I  was 
ordered  to  again  take  position  behind  the  rifle  pits,  before 
occupied.  The  movement  was  effected  by  crossing  to  the  left 
of  the  road,  and  advancing  in  line  in  good  order,  although  in 
the  face  of  the  artillery  fire  of  the  enemy,  under  which,  a 
considerable  number  were  swept  from  the  ranks.  From  the 
rifle  pits,  after  a  short  interval,  I  was  ordered  to  move  across 
the  road  by  the  flank,  to  the  right,  and  posted  near  the  wood, 
to  the  front,  and  right,  of  the  place  of  the  encampment.  The 
right  of  the  Regiment  soon  became  engaged  with  the  enemy. 
Soon  after,  having  been  informed  that  our  own  troops  were 
being  fired  upon  by  my  men,  I  advanced  from  my  position, 
in  front  of  the  center,  to  ascertain  the  fact,  when  I  was  wounded, 
apparently  by  two  musket  balls,  which  struck  me  simultane 
ously,  one  passing  through  the  under  part  of  the  left,  and 
one  lodging  in  the  right  thigh,  and  which  so  disabled  me,  that 
I  was  compelled  to  leave  the  field.  I  was  carried  to  the  rear, 
and  very  soon  after,  I  am  informed,  the  Regiment  fell  back, 
but  was  twice  again  reformed  under  Captain  Miller,  upon 
whom,  as  the  senior  officer  then  on  the  field,  the  command 
devolved,  and  was  as  conspicuous  as  it  was  effective,  in  rally 
ing  and  holding  his  shattered  command,  in  the  face  of  over 
whelming  numbers. 

The  severity  of  the  loss  of  his  company,  which  on  the  right 
was  most  exposed,  attests  the  determined  courage  and  good 
discipline  of  both  officers  and  men.  He  was  bravely  sup 
ported  by  Captain  Smart,  who  was  left  wounded  in  the  leg, 
and  afterwards  wantonly  killed  by  a  Rebel  soldier,  of  whom 
he  asked  assistance.  It  was  during  one  of  these  last  rallies, 
also,  that  Lieutenant  Leland  was  mortally  wounded.  No 
braver  men,  or  more  faithful  officers,  fell  on  that  field  than 
the  three  whose  loss  it  is  my  painful  duty  to  report.  Lieuten 
ant  Colonel  Decker,  who  had  for  a  week  previous  to  the  engage 
ment  been  disabled  by  a  severe  attack  of  rheumatism,  but 
who  was  with  the  Regiment  at  the  beginning,  was,  I  am  in 
formed,  soon  after  compelled  to  leave  the  field.  Major  Marsh 
was  in  the  discharge  of  his  duty  with  the  Regiment  until  after 
it  had  reformed,  upon  retreating  from  the  felled  timber. 
Afterwards,  he  informed  me  he  was  ordered  to  take  command 
of  some  broken  detachments  from  other  commands,  that 
appeared  in  the  vicinity  without  officers.  The  three  com 
panies  on  picket  duty,  and  which  afterwards  came  in  without 
material  loss,  were  A,  E,  and  K.  The  number  of  men  in  the 
action,  after  deducting  various  details,  could  not  have  reached 


MAY  31,  '62  FAIR  OAKS  97 

five  hundred.  I  subjoin  a  list  of  casualties  as  far  as  reported. 
I  beg  leave,  in  explanation  of  the  delay  in  forwarding  this 
report,  to  say  that  I  have  been  unable,  by  reason  of  the  long 
passage  by  sea  to  Boston,  and  subsequent  disability,  to  make 
it  earlier. 

HENRY  S.   BRIGGS. 
(R.  R.,  Vol.  XI,  Part  1,  p.  910.) 

The  following  letter  was  found  among  Major  Miller's  effects, 
after  he  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at  Malvern  Hill, 
and  sent  home  with  them.  It  was  evidently  designed  for  his 
brother : 

DEAR  BROTHER:  You  request  of  me  a  few  of  the  incidents 
which  came  under  my  observation,  and  some  of  my  thoughts 
and  reflections  upon  that  memorable  day  of  the  "Battle  of 
Fair  Oaks."  I  can  only  give  you  those  of  the  first  day's 
engagements,  and  will  endeavor  to  do  so.  My  Company  was 
detailed  to  do  fatigue  duty  that  day.  I  reported  at  one  o'clock, 
and  commenced  work  on  the  corduroy  roads.  We  had  worked 
about  one-half  hour,  when  the  cracking  of  the  rifle  and  the 
booming  of  the  artillery  convinced  me  that  there  was  some 
thing  more  than  common  up,  and  in  our  immediate  vicinity, 
for  it  was  not  more  than  half  a  mile  ahead  of  us  and  our  camp. 
Our  General  Couch  immediately  gave  orders  to  me  to  finish 
up  the  road  so  as  to  have  it  passable  for  artillery,  in  the 
shortest  possible  time.  The  roads  were  accordingly  finished 
off,  and  with  my  company  I  repaired  to  camp  in  "  quick  time." 
Equipments  were  on  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  our  Regiment 
was  sought  out,  and  we  took  our  place  on  the  right  of  the  old 
Tenth  in  some  rifle  pits,  up  to  our  hips  in  water.  It  was  now 
nearly  three  o'clock,  and  the  firing  from  artillery  was  very 
rapid  on  both  sides,  the  bullets  and  slugs  whistling,  and  shells 
bursting  all  around.  I  had  one  man  wounded  here,  and  the 
first  in  the  Regiment  who  was  injured,  (Dwight  F.  Monroe). 

General  Casey's  division,  which  was  just  in  front  of  us, 
forming  the  first  line  of  battle,  was,  by  this  time,  completely 
driven  from  his  position,  the  enemy  taking  some  of  his  guns 
and  turning  them  upon  us.  The  front  was  now  open  to  the 
enemy,  and  only  a  narrow  piece  of  slashed  or  fallen  timber 
intervened  between  us  (Couch's  division)  and  the  troops  and 
guns  of  the  enemy.  Some  men  in  our  Regiment  were  wounded 
here.  We  were  in  this  position  half  an  hour,  when  we  were 
ordered  up  into  the  slashing  by  General  Keyes.  We  immedi 
ately  moved  off  by  the  flank,  led  by  General  Devens  (our 


98  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Brigadier)  and  Colonel  Briggs.  A  narrow  road  led  through  the 
center,  and  up  this  road  we  proceeded  in  plain  sight,  and  within 
easy  rifle  shot  of  the  enemy.  He,  probably,  not  fancying  a  too 
near  approach,  wheeled  a  gun  into  position,  and  in  a  minute 
more,  if  he  had  got  a  good  range,  would  have  sent  us  to  our 
long  home.  I  noticed  this,  and  immediately  called  the  atten 
tion  of  Colonel  Briggs  to  the  fact.  He  informed  the  General, 
who  immediately  ordered  us  into  the  slashing.  We  had  re 
mained  in  this  position  but  a  few  moments,  when  a  murderous 
fire  was  opened  upon  our  left  and  rear  from  the  woods  which 
lined  either  side  of  our  camp  and  the  battle  field.  Our  left 
flank  was  thus  exposed  to  a  raking  fire  without  being  able  to 
return  it  to  any  extent,  the  nature  of  the  ground  being  such 
that  we  could  not  change  our  line  in  season  to  save  us  from 
terrible  slaughter. 

A  retreat  was  accordingly  ordered,  the  men  firing  as  they 
retreated ;  and  so  the  Regiment  took  itself  out  of  the  slashing 
as  best  it  could,  retreating  and  forming  again  upon  our  own 
camp  ground.  My  Company  being  on  the  right  of  the  road, 
and  where  the  fallen  trees  were  thick,  I  did  not  hear  the  order 
to  retreat,  and  remained  some  little  time  after  the  Regiment 
had  left.  I  had  here  two  men  killed,  and  two  wounded.  The 
leaden  missiles  flew  thick  and  fast,  particularly  after  the  rest 
of  the  Regiment  had  left,  as  they  could  see  our  heads  above 
the  logs,  and  concentrated  their  whole  fire  upon  us.  I  could 
not  help  thinking  at  the  time,  of  Headley's  description  of 
Napoleon's  battles,  where  "the  grape  and  canister  swept  every 
inch  of  the  ground,"  and  yet  few  men  were  killed.  I  was 
almost  convinced  that  he  might  have  told  the  truth,  for  it 
really  seemed  as  though  a  man  could  not  live  there  one  moment. 
I  concluded  to  take  up  with  the  advice  an  old  lady  gave  her 
son  (who  was  very  tall)  when  he  joined  the  army,  to  remember 
and  "scooch"  if  he  ever  went  into  battle;  thus  most  of  us 
took  ourselves  back  to  camp,  where  we  found  our  Regiment 
formed  and  ready  for  another  trial.  We  remained  here 
about  half  an  hour  under  a  galling  fire.  One  of  my  men  was 
used  up  here  by  a  shell  which  struck  a  rail  and  threw  it 
heavily  against  his  chest,  knocking  him  down.  A  little  Irish 
waiter  boy,  in  one  of  our  companies,  was  sitting  in  front  of  his 
fire  in  camp,  with  kettle  of  soup,  cooking;  a  shell  came  down, 
cutting  off  the  top  of  one  of  our  men's  heads,  and  struck  just 
under  the  kettle  of  soup  and  exploded.  The  soup,  of  course, 
flew  in  all  directions,  and  the  boy  remarked,  very  coolly,  that 
he  "had  better  be  after  laiving."  He  took  the  back  track, 


MAY  31,  '62  FAIR  OAKS  99 

and  was  not  seen  again  until  next  day.  We  were  again 
ordered  to  the  front,  and  we  took  our  position,  once  more, 
in  the  rifle  pits.  At  this  time  our  batteries  were  all  silenced 
or  drawn  oft  the  field.  The  Rebel  batteries,  which  were  not 
more  than  five  or  six  hundred  yards  distant,  had  perfect 
control,  without  any  hinderance,  of  the  whole  field.  Their 
infantry  lay  along  in  front  and  in  the  slashing  before  us, 
within  easy  distance,  and  I  can  assure  you  that  it  was  very 
hot  there.  There  was  a  perfect  hissing  in  the  air  above  and 
around  us,  of  grape  and  canister,  shot  and  shell,  railroad  iron, 
bullets,  slugs  and  buckshot. 

In  passing  up  to  these  pits,  I  had  two  men  (one  file)  cut 
from  my  ranks,  by  a  solid  shot.  One  died  immediately,  and 
the  other  lived  until  the  next  morning.  He  had  slept  by  my 
side  and  been  with  me  ever  since  we  left  Medford.  He  was  a 
noble  young  fellow,  about  twenty-one  years  old,  and  died 
like  a  soldier  and  a  hero,  (N.  S.  Putney).  He  did  not  utter  a 
groan,  a  complaint,  or  a  regret.  He  said,  "Tell  my  captain  I 
die  like  a  true  soldier.  Tell  my  mother  I  die  like  a  true  soldier. 
Tell  her  I  die  in  peace,  and  hope  to  meet  her,  and  all  the  rest  in 
heaven."  One  leg,  with  the  hip,  was  shot  nearly  off,  and  his 
bowels  were  torn  out.  I  never  heard  of  a  more  heroic,  more 
glorious  death  in  all  my  life.  But  a  few  moments  before  he  had 
shown  me  the  stock  of  his  gun,  which  had  been  badly  shat 
tered  by  a  Minie  ball.  He  remarked,  pleasantly,  that  it  was 
a  very  close  shot,  and  if  he  got  out  alive,  he  should  like  to  take 
the  rifle  home  with  him.  The  Regiment  lost  several  men  in 
passing  up  to  the  rifle  pits  this  time,  and  many  fell  while  in 
the  pits.  After  a  while,  General  Keyes  ordered  us  to  the 
right,  to  repel  an  attack  in  that  direction.  We  accordingly 
filed  off,  led  by  General  Keyes  himself,  and  took  our  position 
in  a  pine  grove  on  the  right  of  the  battle  field.  We  could  see  the 
enemy  approaching,  though  it  was  not  possible  to  tell  in 
what  force.  But  we  were  not  long  in  doubt,  for  he  had 
turned  our  right  flank  and  with  a  heavy  force,  got  between 
us  and  General  Couch,  who  had  only  one  brigade  of  his  divi 
sion  left  with  him.  On  they  came,  regiment  after  regiment, 
covering  our  whole  front,  and  extending  far  past  our  right. 
We  did  not  know,  at  first,  that  our  right  had  been  turned, 
and  had  doubts  whether  they  were  friends  or  foes  there ;  but 
soon  the  gray  coats  and  slouched  hats  were  perceived,  savor 
ing  so  strongly  of  rebellion  that  we  were  no  longer  in  doubt, 
and  the  boys  were  told  to  "Give  it  to  them,"  which  they  did 
with  a  will,  though  they  still  advanced  firmly  with  closed 


100  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

ranks,  four  deep.  Our  men  raked  them  severely  here,  and 
stood  their  ground  bravely,  until  they  were  very  near  in  front 
and  were  lopping  our  left  flank  as  well  as  right.  General 
Keyes  here  ordered  a  retreat,  which  was  accomplished  in  good 
order,  our  men  retiring  out  of  the  woods  across  an  open  field, 
up  a  rise  of  ground,  in  front  of  another  piece  of  woods  to  the 
right  of  our  camp  ground,  where  we  faced  about  and  again 
sent  death  into  their  ranks,  as  they  continued  to  approach  us 
with  measured  tread  and  in  the  best  order. 

It  was  near  here  that  Captain  Day  was  killed,  and  it  was 
here,  also,  that  Colonel  Briggs  was  wounded.  I  made  the 
very  best  use  of  my  Sharp's  rifle*  here.  I  fired  six  shots  into 
the  left  flank  of  the  First  South  Carolina  Regiment — they  were 
within  short  rifle  distance,  and  four  deep.  I  would  almost 
have  pledged  my  rifle  (though  about  as  soon  my  head)  that 
each  shot  brought  down  more  than  one  Rebel.  Our  men 
checked  them  somewhat,  but  they  continued  to  advance. 
Colonel  Briggs  being  wounded,  word  came  to  me  that  I  was 
in  command  of  the  Regiment.  I  then  looked  for  it,  and  found 
the  Colonel  had  gone  to  the  rear,  and  that  the  left  of  the 
Regiment,  with  the  colors,  had  retreated.  I  very  soon  ordered 
a  retreat,  and  passed  back  through  the  woods;  found  our 
colors,  formed  on  them,  and,  under  General  Heintzelman, 
again  started  for  the  enemy.  We  met  them  in  the  woods  and 
gave  them  battle.  Their  numbers  were,  at  this  time,  twenty 
to  one  of  us,  but  luckily  the  brush  on  one  flank  of  our  line 
was  so  thick  that  they  could  not  tell  how  long  it  was.  They 
advanced  very  slowly,  firing — my  men  pouring  into  them  as 
fast  as  possible.  We  were  at  an  "about  face,"  at  this  time, 
facing  the  enemy, . which  brought  my  old  Company  H  on  the 
left,  and  in  the  road,  where  they  could  see  the  Rebels,  and  be 
seen  by  them;  and,  in  my  opinion,  braver  men  never  fought  on 
the  battle  field.  Six  men  of  my  Company  fell  dead  here,  three 
were  mortally  wounded,  and  some  sixteen  wounded.  I  then 
ordered  a  retreat,  .and  it  being  nearly  dark,  we  retired  about 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  rifle  pits  in  the  rear — the  men  cheering 
the  old  flag  which  still  floated  over  us,  tattered  and  torn,  one 
shell  and  several  balls  having  passed  through  it. 

Thus  ended  this  severe  and  first  day's  work  of  mine,  upon 
the  battle  field.  Our  men  fought  bravely,  and  the  colors  were 

*It  was  a  rifle  presented  to  him  by  his  partner  in  business,  and 
another  intimate  friend  at  Shelbu.rne  Falls.  At  one  time  he  wrote  that 
if  called  into  action,  he  should  take  his  rifle  and  leave  his  sword  in 
his  tent. 


MAY  31,  '62  FAIR  OAKS  lO'l 

well  cared  for  in  every  engagement.  Some  of  them,  of  course, 
played  the  shirk,  and  we  know  who  they  were;  but  most  of 
them  were  fearless  and  brave.  You  may,  perhaps,  like  to 
know  what  my  own  feelings  were  during  the  battle.  I  do  not 
know  that  I  felt  very  different  from  what  I  supposed  I  should. 
When  I  became  convinced  that  there  was  work  for  us  that 
day — that  we  must  take  part  in  the  fight,  my  heart,  for  a 
short  time,  beat  a  little  quicker,  but  when  I  had  got  my  equip 
ments  on,  and  started  for  my  Regiment,  I  felt  perfectly  at 
home.  I  had  no  fear,  no  regrets  at  seeing  my  men  fall  around 
me.  What  was  done,  seemed  as  a  matter  of  course,  and  I  had 
no  heart  to  feel  for  the  sufferings  of  my  men,  until  the  battle 
was  over.  Then,  and  not  before,  did  I  realize  the  horrors 
around  me.  We  had  two  captains  killed,  one  severely  wounded, 
our  colonel  wounded,  our  brigadier  general  wounded,  one 
lieutenant  (mine)  mortally  wounded,  three  of  my  sergeants 
were  killed  outright,  and  the  other  two  were  wounded,  one 
very  severely.  The  men  were  cheerful  all  the  time  during  the 
afternoon. 

[From  the  Xeiu  York  Herald,  June  5,  1862] 

THE    DANGEROUS    POSITION    OF    THE    TENTH    MASSACHUSETTS 

Meawhile  another  misfortune  happened  on  our  left.  From 
its  place  near  the  rifle  pits,  the  Massachusetts  Tenth  was 
ordered  into  a  piece  of  ground  nearly  surrounded  with  abatis, 
and  with  the  thick  wood  on  its  left ;  and  the  two  regiments 
which  had  supported  its  left, — the  Ninety-third  and  One  Hun 
dred  and  Second  Pennsylvania,  were  ordered  to  the  right. 
Thus  the  Tenth  was  left  in  a  bad  place,  and  entirely  without 
support.  As  the  enemy  advanced,  firing,  and  torn  by  fire  of 
Flood's,  McCarthy's  and  Miller's  batteries — for  Miller  from 
his  side  of  the  field,  when  he  could  not  get  a  clear  shot  at  the 
enemy  in  his  front,  threw  his  missiles  clear  across  the  field,  and 
with  awful  effect,  too;  as  the  enemy  advanced  under  this 
fire,  and  the  Tenth  became  engaged  in  front,  a  body  of  the 
enemy  made  their  way  through  the  woods  on  its  flank. 
Lieutenant  Eccleston  was  the  first  to  discover  this  body,  and 
rode  desperately  over  the  field,  to  find  General  Couch,  that 
he  might  get  an  order  for  the  Tenth  to  move,  and  so  save  it. 
But  the  gallant  fellow's  exertions  were  vain.  General  Couch 
was  in  the  thick  of  the  struggle,  on  the  right,  too  far  away 
to  be  reached  in  time.  Colonel  Briggs  was  informed  of  the 
approach  of  this  body,  but  as  he  knew  the  position  that 


102  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Peck's  Regiments  had  held,  he  deemed  the  report  incredible, 
and  went  into  the  woods  to  see.  He  had  not  far  to  go.  There 
they  were,  not  only  in  the  woods,  but  through  it,  and  ere  an 
order  could  be  given,  they  delivered  their  fire  full  in  the  rear 
of  the  Tenth.  Utter  confusion  was  the  result.  The  Regiment 
broke,  but  it  proved  to  possess  that  power,  which  had  been 
denied  to  volunteers,  and  claimed  as  the  special  attribute  of 
old  and  so  called  "regular"  soldiers,  namely,  the  power  of 
regeneration.  It  was  rallied,  and  became  once  more  a  complete 
Regiment,  with  only  those  out  whose  bodies  lay  on  the  field. 
Nay,  they  did  it  repeatedly.  Four  different  times  they  were 
broken  in  that  day,  and  four  different  times  the  gallant  Tenth 
was  rallied  and  went  back  into  the  fight.  Let  some  regular 
regiment  beat  that.  Thus  reformed,  the  Tenth  went  back 
into  the  rifle  pits,  on  the  left  of  the  road.  But  the  left  now 
rested  upon  others.  Kearney  was  in,  and  at  it.  Berry's 
Brigade  and  a  portion  of  Jameson's  now  held  the  left,  and  the 
Tenth  was  soon  called  across,  to  take  part  in  the  bitter  struggle 
at  that  point,  which  was  then  our  right,  but  which,  by  the 
extension  of  our  line,  due  to  the  arrival  of  fresh  troops  on 
both  sides,  eventually  became  the  center. 

General  Keyes,  in  a  subsequent  private  conversation  with 
a  gentleman  from  Western  Massachusetts,  in  regard  to  the 
fighting  at  Seven  Pines,  and  the  character  of  the  Tenth,  said, 
"Tell  them,  when  you  go  back,  that  I  have  led  a  hundred 
regiments  into  battle,  and  never  did  I  see  such  bravery. 
I  looked  back  at  them  as  they  advanced,  while  the  shot  fell 
like  hail,  and  there  never  was  such  a  dauntless  corps.  When 
the  fight  was  over,  I  spoke  to  them  of  their  courage,  and  they 
said  they  had  only  done  their  duty,  but  I  have  never  heard 
them  mentioned  in  the  journals.  Their  conduct  was,  and  is, 
unparalleled  in  the  whole  war." 

Official  report  of  the  killed  and  wounded,  in  the  action  of 
May  31st: 

KILLED 

Company  B — Capt.  Elisha  Smart,  Albert  Roberts,  Levi  W. 
Brooks. 

Company  C— Serg.  James  H.  Braman,  George  L.  Putnam, 
Frank  M.  White,  Perry  M.  Coleman. 

Company  D — Edward  Gardner,  Alfred  C.  Hemenway. 

Company  F — Elias  Coomes,  Thomas  S.  Gleason. 

Company  G — Capt.  Edwin  E.  Day,  Andrew  J.  Briggs. 

Company  H— Lieut.  B.  F.  Leland,  Serg.  Charles  D.  Cutler, 
Corp.  George  A.  Veber,  E.  M.  Briggs,  Elisha  W.  Fay,  Syl- 


MAY  31,  '62  FAIR  OAKS  103 

vester  D.  Johnson,  Asa  C.  Merrill,  Nahum  S.  Putney,  Herman 
A.  Spooner,  Henry  C.  Utley. 

Company  I — Hibbard  K.  Bean,  William  H.  Estes,  Robert 
J.  Stewart,  Daniel  D.  Shea. 

WOUNDED 

Col.  Henry  S.  Briggs,  both  thighs,  severe. 

Company  A — Color  Corp.  Nathaniel  X.  Powers,  wounded 
and  taken  prisoner. 

Company  B — John  E.  Atwood,  ankle,  slight;  George  Car 
penter,  leg,  severe;  Charles  H.  Millis,  mortally;  Sidney  T. 
Estee,  hand,  severe;  Adelbert  A.  Haskins,  hand,  slight; 
George  Hanson,  hand,  slight;  Joshua  A.  Sherman,  both  legs, 
severe;  Thomas  Maginley,  ankle,  severe;  Lewis  F.  Amidon, 
leg  and  hand,  severe. 

Company  C — Capt.  Joseph  B.  Parsons,  thigh  and  head, 
severe;  First  Serg.  Willard  I.  Bishop,  leg,  severe;  Corp. 
Sidney  S.  Williams,  arm,  slight;  Corp.  Marcus  T.  Moody, 
hand,  slight;  Serg.  Edwin  Whitney,  face,  slight;  William  M. 
Kingsley,  both  legs,  severe;  William  Mather,  both  legs, 
severe;  Henry  Guyer,  hand,  severe;  Charles  H.  Atwood,  foot, 
severe;  Michael  Brew,  head  and  arm,  severe;  J.  R.  Howes, 
head,  severe;  Frank  W.  Lee,  neck,  serious;  Russell  Taylor, 
arm,  serious;  Eben  M.  Johnson,  hand,  slight;  William  A. 
P.  Foster,  arm,  slight. 

Company  D — First  Serg.  Mark  H.  Cotrell,  arm,  severe; 
Corp.  Walter  B.  Smith,  shoulder,  slight;  Frank  B.  Mason, 
hand,  slight;  William  Irving,  arm,  slight;  William  Jenne, 
chest  and  arm,  serious. 

Company  E — Color  Corp.   C.   Lortscher,  chest,  mortally. 

Company  F — Corp.  Hugh  L.  Gorman,  shoulder,  serious, 
Corp.  Lawrence  Magrath,  chest,  slight;  Augustus  Roy; 
shoulder,  serious;  Thomas  Gaynard,  ankle,  severe;  Lewis 
L.  Daily,  head,  severe;  John  L.  Knight,  hand,  slight;  James 
G.  Morse,  hand,  slight;  Frank  B.  Hawes,  hand,  slight; 
Montreville  H.  Clark,  arm,  severe;  Henry  H.  Rogers, 
abdomen,  slight. 

Company  G— Serg.  George  C.  Kaulback,  shoulder,  severe; 
Corp.  Ralph  L.  Atherton,  arm,  severe;  Corp.  William  B. 
Atherton,  leg  and  arm,  severe;  Corp.  Charles  M.  Whitmore, 
thigh  and  ankle,  serious;  Moses  C.  French,  thigh  and  head, 
serious;  George  S.  Bennett,  arm,  slight;  Robert  Burns, 
neck,  mortally;  Edward  Coolidge,  shoulder,  serious;  Frank 
Gilman,  head,  severe;  James  M.  Hall,  hip,  severe;  Orange 
S.  Oaks,  wounded  and  a  prisoner;  Marshall  A.  Potter,  shoul- 


104  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

der,  severe;  Elihu  R.  Rockwood,  thigh,  severe;  William  R. 
Smith,  thigh,  slight;  Daniel  Smith,  Jr.,  hand,  slight;  Gaius 
T.  Wright,  face,  slight;  Joseph  F.  Webster,  head  and  arm, 
serious. 

Company  H — Serg.  William  Streeter,  head,  slight;  Serg. 
Walter  W.  Carpenter,  chest,  serious;  Corp.  John  W.  Bigelow, 
shoulder,  slight;  John  E.  Austin,  arm  slight;  Jacob  Bringolf, 
side,  mortally;  Alonzo  Bates,  thigh,  severe;  Thomas  F.  Har 
rington,  arm,  severe;  John  Hermann,  breast,  slight;  Daniel 
G.  Howes,  breast,  slight;  Lorenzo  D.  Livermore,  shoulder, 
slight;  Henry  W.  Luther,  hip,  severe;  John  F.  Merrill,  chest, 
serious;  Dwight  F.  Monroe,  leg,  severe;  Thomas  Murphy, 
hand,  slight;  Henry  Parsons,  arm,  severe;  George  F.  Stratt on, 
shoulder,  mortally;  Elias  E.  Veber,  hand,  slight;  Marcus  M. 
Woodward,  leg,  slight;  Henry  C.  Utley,  head,  mortally. 

Company  I — Capt.  Joseph  K.  Newell,  side,  slight;  Corp. 
Robert  Best,  hand,  slight;  Corp.  Philip  Hyde,  head,  slight; 
John  Barry,  leg,  slight;  Smith  A.  Bugbee,  chest,  serious; 
George  Conner,  abdomen,  serious;  William  B.  Edwards,  leg, 
slight;  Charles  L.  Hartwell.  arm,  severe;  Charles  E.  Hovey, 
neck,  slight;  James  M.  Justin,  thigh,  severe;  James  Living 
ston,  ankle,  slight;  Alexander  C.  Smith,  leg,  severe;  Hanniel 
P.  Smith,  shoulder,  severe;  William  H.  Smith,  arm,  severe; 
Napoleon  Trudeau,  shoulder,  slight. 

Company  K — Color  Corp.  Marshal  Barden,  chest,  mortally. 

Band — Albert   K.    Ingraham,   shoulder,   severe. 

Total — Killed,  twenty-seven;  wounded,  ninety-five,  six 
of  them  mortally.  (Subsequent  reports  carried  this  record  of 
killed  and  mortally  wounded  to  thirty-nine.) 

Robert  Burns  was  the  first  to  give  poetic  expression  to  the 
innate  wish  of  humanity  to  see  itself  as  others  see  it,  hence 
it  will  not  be  amiss  to  quote  just  a  few  words  from  other 
reports  given  in  the  "Records  of  the  Rebellion"  as  printed 
by  the  Government.  What  the  Corps  Commander,  General 
Keyes,  thought  of  his  Bay  State  Regiment  has  already  been 
stated  on  page  102.  General  Couch,  commanding  the  Division, 
riding  up  to  the  rear  of  the  Regiment,  the  next  day,  was 
discovered  and  greeted  with  hearty  cheers  by  the  remnant 
of  the  men  to  whom  he  said,  as  he  took  off  his  hat,  "Noble 
Tenth!  It  did  its  duty  as  it  always  will.  I  am  proud  of  it 
and  proud  of  my  whole  division ;  I  am  not  ashamed  of  a  man 


MAY  31,  '62  FAIR  OAKS  105 

in  it."  Then  wheeling  his  horse  he  galloped  away.  In  his 
report  to  Corps  Headquarters,  R.  R.  Vol.  XI,  Part  I,  p.  881, 
he  says,  "General  Devens,  with  only  two  regiments,  held  his 
ground  firmly,  pouring  in  a  most  destructive  fire  at  short 
distance,  the  36th  New  York  not  retiring  until  ordered,  while 
the  Tenth  Massachusetts,  though  its  Colonel  (Briggs)  was 
carried  off  severely  wounded,  its  Lieut.  Colonel  sick, 
*  *  yet  under  the  brave  Captain  Miller  held  its  posi 
tion  until  outflanked  and  several  orders  had  been  given  it  to 
fall  back.  At  night  it,  with  several  others  of  my  exhausted 
division  and  Kearney's,  formed  the  front  line  facing  the 
enemy.  General  Devens,  severely  wounded,  remained  bravely 
on  the  field  until  the  last  shot  was  fired."  He  also  paid  a 
glowing  tribute  to  Lieutenant  Edwards,  an  aide,  at  the  same 
time  Adjutant  of  the  Tenth,  saying,  "My  thanks  are  due  to 
Lieutenant  Edwards  for  his  zeal  and  assistance ;  in  a  daring 
personal  reconnoissance,  he  had  his  horse  shot  under  him  by 
my  side;  at  another  time  he  threw  himself  at  the  head  of  a 
regiment  and  he  it  was  who  informed  me  of  the  proximity 
of  General  Sumner."  General  Devens  in  his  report  makes 
frequent  mention  of  the  part  taken  by  the  Tenth.  On  page 
907  of  Vol.  XI,  R.  R.  he  says,  "In  the  action,  seven  com 
panies  of  the  Tenth  Massachusetts,  numbering  about  five 
hundred  men,  and  eight  companies  of  the  36th  New  York, 
numbering  about  four  hundred  men,  were  engaged,  the  other 
companies  of  these  regiments  being  on  picket  duty ;  and  it  will 
be  seen  from  the  list  which  I  annex  that  the  casualties  were 
heavy,  especially  in  the  former,  but  I  believe  both  regiments 
are  entitled  to  credit  for  having  done  their  duty  faithfully." 

On  the  whole  the  month  of  May  went  out  with  a  deal  of 
commotion  and  the  next  day  June  came  in  with  trouble  of  its 
own,  but  the  Tenth  had  a  comparatively  quiet  Sunday 
although  other  parts  of  the  army  were  driving  the  enemy  back 
towards  Richmond.  Under  the  impulse  imparted  by  Joe 
Hooker  and  others,  the  Confederates  sought  their  Capital 
with  speed  and  they  were  followed  as  far  as  it  seemed  prudent  to 
go  without  orders.  As  for  our  Regiment,  it  was  in  the  rifle  pits 


106  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

all  day,  while  details  from  all  the  companies  were  burying  the 
dead.  As  a  rule,  each  Company  sought  and  buried  its  own, 
and  that  as  close  as  possible  to  the  spot  where  the  soldier  fell, 
marking  the  grave  in  some  simple  manner  that  it  might  be 
identified  afterward.  All  over  the  ground  covered  by  the 
Regiment,  its  dead  were  found,  and  tender,  loving  hands 
performed  the  last  sad  rites  for  those  whom  they  had  loved  in 
life.  Captain  Smart's  body  was  buried  in  the  woods,  back 
of  the  rifle  pits,  a  service  being  conducted  by  the  Chaplain  of 
a  Michigan  regiment.  An  omnibus,  filled  with  Richmond 
sight-seers  was  brought  in  during  the  forenoon,  it  having 
ventured  too  far,  under  the  impression  that  the  Yankees  had 
been  driven  across  the  river.  The  fight  of  the  preceding  day 
came  on  so  suddenly  that  the  Rebels  had  the  privilege  of 
making  their  own  choice  of  what  the  Regiment  had  in  camp, 
and  they  improved  their  opportunity.  If  anything  were  left 
it  was  because  they  had  no  use  for  it.  Their  old  rags,  carpets, 
etc.,  used  as  blankets,  were  replaced  by  the  regular  articles 
wrhich  we  had  no  time  to  take  with  us.  It  is  said  that  Casey's 
men  had  left  enough  new  uniforms  to  equip  a  whole  division. 
General  McClellan  was  heartily  cheered  as  he  rode  along  the 
lines  that  day.  June  2d  saw  a  continuation  of  the  work  of  the 
previous  day,  though  the  Regiment  moved  only  a  short 
distance  to  the  right.  In  the  main  our  dead  were  buried  singly 
while  the  Rebels  were  placed  in  trenches,  holding  from 
twenty  to  thirty.  Bullet  holes  in  one's  clothing  were  rather 
the  rule  than  exception,  contusions  of  the  skin  were  frequent, 
and  some  men  had  several  wounds,  small  to  be  sure,  but 
adding  to  the  memories  of  the  battle  baptism  received  the 
very  last  of  May.  Fortifying  the  position  was  the  order  now 
and  on  the  3d,  a  line  of  abatis  was  placed  in  front  of  the  rifle 
pits  and  at  6.00  p.  m.  a  part  of  the  Regiment  was  detailed 
for  picket  duty. 

CHICKAHOMINY 

The  month  of  June  was  to  be  mingled  in  the  story  of  the 
Tenth    with    memories    of    the    swamps    of    Chickahominy. 


JUNE  5,  '62  CHICKAHOMINY  107 

Owing  to  the  frequent  rains,  the  earth  was  soaked  full  of 
moisture,  "impassable  for  artillery"  McClellan  says,  "almost 
so  for  infantry."  Week  after  week  in  such  a  region,  malaria 
laden,  under  the  heat  of  an  approaching  summer  solstice, 


A.  H.  Warren,   Co.   H,  standing  where  Lieut.   Leland   and   five  Sergeants  of  "H"  were 

killed   or  wounded. 
FAIR    OAKS,    1902. 

there  need  be  no  wonder  that  soldiering  lost  all  of  its  romance 
and  came  right  down  to  hardest  realities.  While  the  Army  of 
the  Potomac  was  sweltering  and  soaking  under  the  conditions 
of  the  campaign,  the  wounds  of  General  Johnston  had  rend 
ered  it  necessary  to  find  a  new  head  or  leader  for  the  Con 
federates.  The  same  appeared  in  the  person  of  Robert  E. 
Lee,  who,  during  all  of  the  subsequent  months  and  years 
of  the  struggle,  was  found  near  at  hand  whenever  a  fight 
was  wanted.  No  matter  who  commanded  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  nor  where  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  was 
found,  very  near  also  appeared  the  form  and  face  of 
"Uncle  Robert,"  clear  up  to  and  including  Appomattox. 
He  was,  himself,  a  large  part  of  the  army  whose  comman 
der  he  was. 

Line  was  formed  at  4.00  a.  m.  of  the  5th  to  repel  an  ex 
pected  attack,  there  being  heavy  firing  on  the  right,  but  noth- 


108  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

ing  came  of  it.  Fresh  regiments  were  arriving,  some  of  them 
from  garrison  duty  at  Fortress  Monroe  and  Norfolk.  Ignorant 
of  active  campaigning,  their  verdancy  brought  out  queer 
remarks  and  those  who  had  suffered  all  the  way  up  the 
Peninsula  were  amused  when  one  of  the  new  officers  inquired 
where  he  could  buy  a  pie,  at  the  same  time  saying  that  he 
had  not  eaten  a  mouthful  of  soft  bread  in  three  days;  nor 
was  the  rejoinder  exactly  consoling  when  he  was  told  that, 
probably,  he  never  would  see  any  more  soft  bread.  The 
curiously  inclined  were  having  much  interest  in  the  archaic 
weapons  which  the  enemy  threw  away  in  the  battle,  the 
ground  being  strewn  with  all  sorts  of  guns,  including  as  diverse 
weapons  as  the  Mississippi  rifle  and  an  old  fashioned  smoothbore 
shotgun.  The  regulation  Richmond  muskets  made  for  the  Con 
federates  with  the  United  States  machinery  stolen  from  Har 
per's  Ferry,  were  far  from  being  finished  shooting-irons  and 
hardly  bore  comparison  with  those  manufactured  in  Spring 
field.  Battle  loss  and  the  hospital  had  taken  so  many  of  the 
men  that,  out  of  the  entire  Regiment,  only  46o  reported  for 
duty  on  the  9th,  less  than  half  the  number  that  almost  a 
year  before  had  been  awaiting  muster-in  at  Springfield. 
New  shelter  tents,  blankets  and  other  necessaries  came  to 
take  the  place  of  those  lost  at  Fair  Oaks.  Continuous  heavy 
firing  did  not  prevent  the  arrival  of  the  sutler  with  wagons, 
and  luxuries  could  be  had  by  a  liberal  expenditure  of  funds. 

For  fulh"  a  week  following  the  battle  only  hard-tack  and 
coffee  were  issued  as  rations,  but  these  were  gratefully  taken 
and  used.  Surgeon  Chamberlain  received  from  the  Ladies' 
Soldiers'  Aid  Society  of  Holyoke  two  large  boxes  of  hospital 
stores,  the  same  containing  great  quantities  of  bedding,  towels, 
handkerchiefs,  table  cloths,  1,500  yards  of  bandages,  besides 
a  liberal  amount  of  jellies,  jams  and  other  preserves,  with 
wine,  tea  and  almost  everything  that  intelligence  could 
suggest  as  useful  in  sick  quarters.  A  special  package  worth 
about  sixteen  dollars  was  obtained  by  the  united  efforts  of 
the  little  Misses  Ida  Goldthwaite  and  Annie  F.  Pierce,  the 
same  being  expressly  for  Company  I.  It  was  in  the  week 


JUNE  14,  '62  CHICKAHOMIXY  109 

following  the  fight,  that  General  Keyes  came  riding  over  to 
the  Regiment,  and  learning  what  one  it  was,  said,  "I  came 
on  purpose  to  see  you;  at  the  battle  last  Saturday,  you  saved 
the  left  wing  of  the  army.  Great  praise  and  honor  are  due 
you,  and  I  will  see  that  justice  is  done  you  in  the  reports." 

The  14th  was  not  only  the  anniversary  of  the  assembling 
of  the  Regiment  on  Hampden  Park,  but  it  also  marked  the 
discharges  of  Major  Marsh  and  Lieutenant  Woodward  of 
Company  H,  the  former  starting  at  once  for  home  and  the 
latter  resigning  on  account  of  severe  attacks  of  rheumatism. 
During  these  days  the  entire  Regiment  wrorked  at  redoubt 
building  and  formed  line  every  morning,  sometimes  as  early 
at  three  o'clock,  to  be  ready  in  case  of  an  attack.  On  the  17th, 
or  Bunker  Hill  Day,  heavy  cannonading  in  the  direction  of 
Fort  Darling  on  the  James  gave  rise  to  the  rumor  that  the 
Fort  had  been  taken.  Hot  coffee  was  sent  out  in  goodly 
quantities  to  ward  off  malaria  which  was  constantly  suggested 
by  the  heavy  mist  overhanging  the  entire  region  every 
morning  and  lasting  for  several  hours.  The  situation  was 
equally  trying  for  the  enemy  and  all  of  their  hospital  quarters 
were  crowded.  To  ward  off  threatened  scurvy,  rations  of 
potatoes,  pickles  and  dried  apples  were  issued.  It  was  on  or 
about  the  19th  that  Brig.  Gen.  I.  N.  Palmer,  a  regular  army 
officer,  and  then  lately  in  command  of  a  brigade  in  Casey's 
Division,  succeeded  General  Devens  who,  badly  wounded, 
was  in  the  hospital.  Relatively,  everything  was  quiet,  though 
there  was  heavy  firing  at  times;  wre  were  still  working  on 
fortifications  and  were  turning  out  at  three  o'clock  in  the 
morning;  skirmishes  were  frequent;  and  Sunday,  the  22d, 
brought  an  inspection  at  5.00  a.  m. 

The  2od  had  its  early  rising,  drill  from  o.OO  to  4.00  a.  m., 
followed  by  hot  coffee  and  a  short  rest.  It  came  out  that 
day  that  First  Lieutenant  Chase  of  Company  K  resigned 
June  20th,  and  had  gone  home.  Sharp  picket  firing  began 
at  about  five  in  the  afternoon,  whereupon  the  line  was 
strengthened  by  details  from  the  Division,  Company  K  going 
out  to  represent  the  Tenth.  Heavy  rains  fell  in  the  night  and 


110  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INTFANTRY 

some  officers  thought  the  Confederates  were  evacuating  Rich 
mond,  but  a  reconnoissance  revealed  the  enemy  at  his  old 
stand  and  in  full  force.  That  day  also  brought  the  glad 
tidings  that  Captain  Ozro  Miller  of  Company  H  had  been 
promoted  Major,  news  that  everyone  received  with  acclama 
tion,  because  his  brave  conduct  at  Fair  Oaks  could  not  be 
forgotten.  Someone  has  written  concerning  the  appearance 
of  the  battle  field  three  weeks  after  the  fight,  saying,  "Under 
June  sun  and  rains,  it  looks  desolate  and  offensive.  Owing 
to  the  water  and  mud,  with  various  conditions  of  burial,  the 
body  of  many  a  poor  soldier  was  inadequately  covered  and 
now,  owing  to  scanty  covering,  many  a  black,  decaying 
hand  and  foot,  or  even  head,  make  a  ghastly  projection  and 
the  emanating  stench  is  sickening.  In  a  greater  degree  is 
this  also  true  of  the  carcasses  of  the  fine  horses  slain  in  the 
battle,  whence  nauseous  gases  taint  the  whole  atmosphere. 
Anyone  still  possessed  of  that  quality  called  the  poetry  of 
war  should  take  a  walk  over  this  scene  and  he  w^ould  soon  be 
separated  from  any  illusion  he  may  have  had  as  to  the  romance 
and  poetry  of  the  battle  field." 

The  24th  was  a  day  of  vigilance,  beginning  with  a  sharp 
fusilade  on  the  picket  line  and  the  men  were  ordered  out 
with  all  of  their  equipments  and  to  be  ready  to  move  at  any 
moment;  though  the  order  in  part  was  soon  countermanded, 
not  a  man  was  permitted  to  leave  camp  under  any  condition. 
Of  the  25th,  General  A.  S.  Webb,  in  his  Peninsula  Campaign 
says : 

SEVEN  DAYS'  FIGHT 

With  Richmond  less  than  five  miles  distant,  the  Com- 
mander-in-Chief  now  prepared  to  push  still  nearer,  he  deter 
mining  to  move  the  line  in  front  of  Seven  Pines  forward  to  a 
large  clearing  on  the  other  side  of  a  heavily  timbered  piece 
of  ground,  through  the  middle  of  which  ran  a  small  stream, 
whose  swampy  borders  until  that  time  had  formed  the 
extreme  picket  line  of  the  opposing  forces  in  that  direction. 
This  was  known  as  the  affair  of  Oak  Grove. 


JUNE  25,  '62  OAK  GROVE  111 

OAK   GROVE 

Heintzelman's  Corps,  part  of  Sumner's,  and  Palmer's  brigade 
of  Reyes's  Corps  advanced  in  good  order  through  the  timber, 
met  and  repulsed  a  stronge  force  of  the  enemy  and  occupied  the 
position,  throwing  out  a  picket  within  four  miles  of  Richmond. 
*  *  It  is  at  this  point  we  reach  the  crisis  of  the  Penin 
sular  Campaign.  Despite  delays,  drawn  battles,  losses  and 
unlocked  for  natural  obstacles,  McClellan  had  succeeded,  as 
he  had  promised,  in  reaching  the  vicinity  of  the  Rebel  Capital, 
thus  relieving  Washington,  alarming  the  southern  leaders, 
and  raising  the  anticipations  of  the  North. 

As  to  the  part  played  by  the  Tenth  in  that  day's  doings, 
we  find  the  Regiment  roused  at  three  o'clock,  as  usual,  with 
customary  policing  of  the  grounds.  During  the  forenoon 
heavy  skirmishing  in  our  front  resulted  in  the  formation  of 
battle  line  and  thus  we  moved  out  to  the  battle  ground  of 
May  31st,  where  arms  were  stacked,  the  entire  Division  lying 
on  the  left  of  the  road  in  column  by  regiment,  our  brigade, 
Palmer's,  being  almost  to  the  rear  of  the  whole.  As  the  firing 
grew  warmer  an  aide  was  seen  riding  down  the  line  and, 
saluting,  he  requested  the  presence  of  General  Palmer  with  his 
brigade  at  the  front.  To  obey  took  but  a  few  moments  and 
we  advanced  into  the  woods  where  line  of  battle  was  again 
formed  in  a  position  nearer  Richmond  than  any  as  yet  held 
by  our  troops.  We  advanced  to  the  edge  of  the  woods  and 
halted,  while  just  across  a  cleared  plot  of  ground,  in  the  edge 
of  another  strip  of  woods  were  the  Rebel  skirmishers.  No 
further  order  for  advance  was  given  and  an  irregular  firing 
was  kept  up  all  the  afternoon.  At  nightfall,  the  enemy 
brought  up  two  cannon  and  shelled  the  woods,  sometimes 
with  case  shot,  sometimes  with  grape  which  rattled  through 
the  trees,  but  by  dint  of  hugging  the  ground  closely  and,  owing 
to  the  elevation  of  their  range,  little  harm  came  to  us,  though 
the  regiments  to  our  left  did  not  fare  so  well. 

At  9.00  p.  m.  intrenching  tools  were  brought  up  and  tired 
men  undertook  to  dig  rifle  pits,  the  ground,  however,  proving 
to  be  of  the  nature  of  quicksand,  the  sand  running  back  as 
rapidlv  as  it  was  thrown  out.  One  party,  in  the  darkness, 


112  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

found  themselves  unearthing  the  graves  of  a  number  of 
recently  buried  Confederates,  thus  ending  digging  in  that 
direction,  while  bodies  of  the  enemy  were  seen  still  unburied 
though  it  was  almost  four  weeks  since  the  great  battle.  One 
body  was  seen  hanging  from  a  tree,  caught  in  the  branches, 
evidently  that  of  a  sharpshooter.  The  night  came  near 
being  one  of  horrors,  though  the  church  bells  of  Richmond 
could  be  heard  as  they  indicated  the  hours  of  the  passing 
night.  Unable  to  make  any  headway  in  their  protective 
measures,  the  men  threw  down  their  shovels  and  picks  and 
then  lying  down  attempted  to  get  a  little  sleep  on  the  moist 
earth.  The  respective  lines  of  battle  were  not  more  than  four 
hundred  yards  apart  and  a  strong  picket  line  commanded  by 
Major  Miller  was  in  front  of  the  Regiment,  now  under  the 
command  of  Captain  Barton.  The  foe  was  too  near  for  our 
comfort  and  very  likely  he  also  felt  the  same  way.  Every 
move  of  the  enemy  was  audible  and  their  speculation  as  to 
the  probable  numbers  of  the  "Yanks"  was  plainly  heard. 
Their  constant  chopping  evidenced  a  wish  to  make  any- 
advance  on  our  part  still  more  difficult.  Very  likely  "bluffs" 
were  put  up  on  both  sides  and  Lieutenant  (then  Sergeant) 
Eaton  tells  of  hearing  orders  given  in  a  most  resonant  manner 
by  some  on  the  Rebel  side,  apparently  to  convey  the  impres 
sion  of  a  large  force  in  the  vicinity.  When  our  folks  sent  over 
an  emphatic  indication  of  their  presence,  the  Rebel  force 
seemed  to  fade  away  until  a  very  faint  "  Halt "  in  the  distance 
told  of  the  dispersion  of  the  enemy,  probably  not  more  than 
a  corporal's  guard.  Occasionally,  too,  the  Rebels  would  fire 
volleys  at  us  which  we  were  in  duty  bound  to  repay,  with  the 
result  that  the  pickets,  between  both  fires,  had  an  unreasonably 
hard  time  of  it.  Altogether,  it  was  an  extremely  bad  night 
for  the  Regiment.  In  war  annals,  that  day  is  numbered  one 
in  the  Seven  Days'  Fighting. 

Though  the  Tenth  did  all  that  was  required,  it  had  no  ex 
tended  list  of  casualties  for  the  day  and  night;  indeed,  just 
before  daylight  of  the  26th,  the  brigade  fell  back  to  the  breast 
works  of  Casey's  old  position,  leaving  the  picket  still  in  the 


JUNE  27,  '62  SAVAGE  STATION  113 

front.  During  the  forenoon  Abercrombie's  brigade  came  up 
and  took  the  place  of  Palmer's,  and  at  noon  or  thereabouts, 
the  picket  was  relieved.  On  that  day  Fitz  John  Porter  with 
his  Fifth  Corps  and  McCall's  Division  of  the  First  were 
fighting  at  Mechanicsville  or  Ellison's  Mills,  the  second  battle 
in  the  memorable  series.  This  was  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Chickahominy  and  at  the  extreme  Union  right. 

SAVAGE  STATION 

On  the  27th  there  was  nothing  noted  save  a  march  to 
Savage  Station,  till  nearly  night,  when  the  Regiment  moved 
to  the  right  of  the  line.  Heavy  firing  in  that  direction  all  day 
indicated  work  for  somebody.  We  reached  Sumner's  Second 
Corps  just  at  dark,  being  thrown  out  as  skirmishers  in  the 
rear  of  those  who  wrere  trying  to  prevent  straggling.  The 
wounded  of  Porter's  Fifth  Corps  were'  carried  by  in  great 
numbers.  At  midnight  we  returned  to  Savage  Station  and 
encamped.  The  movement  towards  the  James  River  was 
now  beginning,  the  failure  of  Federal  reinforcements,  together 
with  Jackson's  junction  with  Lee,  making  any  further  attempts 
on  Richmond  at  present  futile.  Later  we  learned  that  the 
sound  of  battle  was  incident  to  that  of  Gaines's  Mill  or  Cold 
Harbor,  again  on  the  extreme  right,  where  Porter  once  more, 
with  the  same  following  of  the  day  before,  was  giving  the 
enemy  grand  lessons  in  the  art  of  war.  Reinforced  by  portions 
of  the  Second  and  Sixth  Corps,  the  ground  was  held  against 
a  vastly  greater  force  of  the  enemy.  The  28th  saw  the  trans- 
ferral  of  that  part  of  the  army,  hitherto  on  the  north  side  of 
the  Chickahominy,  to  the  south  side  and  the  consequent 
destruction  at  White  House  of  the  supplies  that  could  not  be 
removed  to  the  new  depot  on  the  James.  There  were  scenes 
of  great  activity  in  all  directions;  wells  dug  for  use  of  the 
troops  were  filled  up  with  all  sorts  of  surplus  matter,  and 
about  the  middle  of  the  forenoon,  column  was  formed  and  the 
march  for  the  James  began.  The  weather  was  very  hot  and 
a  deal  of  straggling  resulted. 

While,    on   the    29th,    the    Second   and   Sixth    Corps   were 


114  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

engaging  the  enemy  at  Savage  Station,  and  the  remainder 
of  the  Second  Corps  was  waging  the  battle  of  Peach  Orchard 
or  Allen's  Farm,  the  troops  already  on  the  south  side  of  the 
river  were  on  their  way  towards  their  new  base.  With  the 
Tenth  Regiment,  there  was  a  bit  of  variation  in  that  a  certain 
North  Carolina  Regiment  of  cavalry  that  had  made  it  a  regular 
thing  to  drive  in  the  Union  cavalry  pickets  each  morning,  this 
time  ran  into  a  masked  battery  well  supported  by  the  Seventh 
Massachusetts.  Their  reception  was  unexpectedly  warm  and 
about  eighty  of  them  were  speedily  unhorsed,  the  remainder 
badly  scattered,  and  their  Major,  commanding,  was  mortally 
wounded.  Poor  fellow,  he  made  more  fuss  over  the  loss  of 
his  horse  than  he  did  at  his  own  approaching  dissolution, 
saying  that  the  steed  had  cost  him  two  hundred  dollars.  The 
captured  arms  included  sabres,  stolen  by  Secretary  Floyd 
when  in  Buchanan's  Cabinet,  Sharp's  carbines,  double-bar 
reled  guns,  and  a  number  of  horses.  The  weapons  were 
archaic  and  easily  rendered  unfit  for  use,  so  that  the  most  of 
them  were  soon  dumped  into  the  first  stream  crossed  by  the 
Army.  Compared  with  the  section  so  recently  warred  over, 
this  through  which  the  troops  were  passing  was  attractive 
and  all  enjoyed  the  change,  though  many  regretted  the 
seeming  necessity  of  the  shift  of  direction  away  from  Rich 
mond  rather  than  towards  it.  Marching  very  near  the 
enemy's  line,  the  utmost  care  was  taken  to  prevent  knowledge 
of  the  movement  reaching  the  ears  of  the  foe.  Orders  were 
transmitted  in  whispers,  so,  though  our  Army  was  within  easy 
hailing  distance  much  of  the  time,  it  really  passed  along 
unheeded.  It  was  not  an  ideal  way  to  pass  a  Sunday  night, 
yet  through  all  the  long  hours  of  darkness,  on  the  29th  and 
the  30th,  for  more  than  eight  long  hours,  Keyes's  Corps 
leading,  the  men  were  wading  streams,  stumbling  over  fallen 
trees,  and  halting  whenever  approaching  an  unusually 
dangerous  portion,  to  ascertain  just  how  to  get  over  it;  all 
this  in  threading  the  mazes  of  White  Oak  Swamp,  for  fully 
nine  wearv  miles  of  distance. 


JUNE  30,  '62  WHITE  OAK  SWAMP  115 

WHITE    OAK   SWAMP 

The  earliest  arrival  on  the  banks  of  the  James  was  at  3.00 
a.  m.,  just  before  sunrise,  and  thence  onward  the  men  were 
coming  up  until,  at  eight  o'clock,  it  could  be  truthfully 
said  that  the  brigade  had  arrived.  Quickly  the  wearied  men 
threw  themselves  on  the  green  grass  for  long  deferred  rest, 
while  the  extended  train  of  baggage  wagons  moved  on  to 
Harrison's  Landing,  some  miles  further  down  the  river,  where 
it  was  understood  the  army  would  rendezvous.  Swinton  says 
there  were  5,000  wagons  in  the  train  and  above  2,500  beef 
cattle. 

Nearby,  seated  under  an  oak,  were  General  McClellan  and 
other  officers,  conversing  and  watching  the  signals  exchanged 
with  the  gunboat.  Aroostook,  in  the  river,  where  also  were 
other  wooden  vessels  and  the  ironclad  Monitor.  Here  was 
the  first  opportunity  during  fully  a  month  for  officers  and 
men  to  take  a  real  bath  and  many  seized  it,  though  clearer 
water  would  have  improved  the  same.  There  was  no  change 
of  clothing  to  follow  the  liquid  plunge  and  the  same  garments, 
well  shaken,  had  to  be  replaced.  "Well  shaken,"  for  the 
month  on  the  Chickahominy  had  inducted  the  army  into  all 
of  the  peculiarities  and  properties  of  the  insect  immortalized 
by  Burns,  when  he  saw  one  on  the  bonnet  of  a  lady  in  church, 
in  other  words  that  creepy  bit  of  God's  creation  scientifically 
known  as  the  pediculus  corporis,  though  the  soldier  was  wont 
to  call  him  a  grayback. 

While  we  passed  through  the  swamp  unmolested,  heavy 
firing  through  the  day  told  us  that  those  who  came  after  us 
were  not  so  fortunate  and  we  learned  that  history  had  been 
in  progress,  since  almost  the  entire  Potomac  Army,  except  our 
immediate  part  of  the  Fourth  Corps,  had  been  fighting  the 
Battle  of  White  Oak  Swamp  and  Glendale  or  Frazier's  Farm, 
Turkey  Bend  or  Charles  City  Cross  Roads;  indeed,  there  are 
several  other  appellations  by  which  the  engagement  is  some 
times  known ;  they  were  fierce  and  well  contested  fields  where 
General  Franklin  and  others  had  fought  Stonewall  Jackson 


116  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

and  his  well-seasoned  soldiers  with  a  large  part  of  the  rest  of 
the  Rebel  Army.  After  a  protracted  rest,  at  about  4.00  p.  m., 
we  retraced  our  steps  toward  Malvern  Hill,  meeting  thus 
many  regiments  that  had  been  under  fire  during  the  day, 
but  our  arrival  was  too  late  for  participation.  The  ground 
was  covered  with  the  wreck  of  battle,  in  the  midst  of  which 
we  stacked  arms  and  lay  down  to  await  the  morrow,  confident 
that  its  advent  would  bring  to  us  our  portion  in  the  dread 
series  which  thus  far  we  had  escaped. 

Of  that  night's  march  through  White  Oak  Swamp,  a  partici 
pant  in  Company  K  tells  a  graphic  story  as  follows: 

That  was  the  hardest  night's  work  I  ever  experienced;  for 
twelve  hours  our  knapsacks  were  not  off  our  backs.  Through 
woods  so  dark  it  was  impossible  to  see  three  feet  in  any 
direction,  and  the  roads  very  muddy,  such  a  vast  column 
moving  over  them  with  artillery,  made  it  very  slow  traveling, 
frequently  not  going  half  a  mile  an  hour.  After  midnight,  at 
every  stop,  if  not  for  more  than  two  or  three  minutes,  the 
whole  column  would  sink  to  the  ground  without  regard  to 
mud  or  water.  Here  it  was  that  many  slept  while  marching. 
At  any  halt  they  would  sink  and  rise  with  the  mass,  and  for 
a  time  move  on  unconsciously.  One  comrade  told  me  that  he 
marched  the  better  part  of  the  night  asleep.  At  sunrise  we 
passed  through  the  woods  and  entered  a  wheat  field,  covering 
almost  a  square  mile,  ready  for  the  sickle.  It  was  shoulder 
high  and  thick  with  weeds  and  clover.  We  marched  through 
it  and  stacked  arms,  threw  off  our  knapsacks,  spread  our 
rubber  blankets,  slept  two  or  three  hours  and  felt  refreshed. 
This  was  Haxall's  landing  on  the  James  River.  This  was 
June  30th,  and  one  of  the  hottest  days.  The  sun  poured  its 
scorching  rays  on  our  weak  and  exhausted  bodies,  but  we  had 
to  endure  without  even  a  leaf  for  shelter.  At  2.00  p.  m.  we 
took  arms  and  moved  towards  the  woods  expecting  to  camp 
for  the  night  and  rest,  but  how  we  were  disappointed!  It  was 
the  forerunner  of  a  bloody  battle.  After  marching  into  the 
edge  of  the  woods  we  left  our  knapsacks  and  started  double 
quick  to  the  front.  Away  we  went  as  fast  as  possible.  I  was 
compelled  to  give  up  and  fell  exhausted.  (He  had  only  recently 
returned  from  the  hospital.)  Night  was  fast  approaching 
and  as  we  (himself  and  others)  could  not  find  the  Regiment 
we  returned  to  the  knapsacks.  On  the  next  day  was  the  battle 
of  Malvern  Hill. 


JULY  1,  T>2  MALVERN  HILL  117 

MALVERN  HILL 

The  last  six  days  of  June  had  been  bloody  ones;   Oak  Grove, 
Mechanicsville,   Gaines's  Mill,   Savage  Station,  Allen's  Farm, 
White   Oak  Swamp   and  Glendale  are   all  graven  deeply  in 
American  history;    all  of  them  steps  in  the  retrograde  move 
ment  towards  Harrison's  Landing.     The  Confederates,  under 
Jackson,  had  attacked  the  Union  rear  at  White  Oak  Swamp 
on  the  30th,  while  Longstreet,  flanking  the  swamp,  had  pushed 
forward  on  the  Long  Bridge  or  New  Market  road  and  coming 
up  with  the   Union  forces  fought   at   Glendale.      The  latter 
engagement    enabled    McClellan    to    concentrate    his    united 
forces  on  the  heights  of  Malvern  and  there  to  await  the  attack 
of  the  Confederates  with  advantages  most  decidedly  in  his 
favor.     If  the  closing  days  of  June  had  been  written  in  bloody 
characters   on   the    sacred   soil   of   Old   Virginia,    July   in   its 
opening  day  was  to  impart  a  still  deeper  crimson  to  the  Old 
Dominion.     So  strong  was  the  position  that  the  soldierly  eye 
of  Lee  warned  him  of  the  danger,  yet  unwilling  to  lose  the 
results  of  his  sanguinary  progress  downward  from  the  Chicka- 
hominy  he  risked  the  encounter.     Ignorance  of  the  situation 
or  dread  of  the  assault  held  off  the  attack  till  late  in  the  after 
noon,  though  there  was  an  artillery  duel  earlier,  and  at  three 
o'clock    Anderson's    brigade    of    D.    H.    Hill's    Division    had 
attacked  Couch's  front  and  had  been  handsomely  repulsed, 
Swinton    says    by    the    "excellent    practice    of    Kingsbury's 
Battery  with  the  steady  fire  of  the  Tenth  Massachusetts  and  a 
charge  of  the  36th  New  York — the  latter  Regiment  capturing 
the    colors    of   the    14th    North    Carolina   in   a   hand-to-hand 
conflict." 

It  was  six  in  the  afternoon  before  the  real  contest  began 
with  the  advance  of  D.  H.  Hill,  only  to  be  repulsed  by  the 
forces  in  their  strong  position.  Not  till  nine  o'clock  did  the 
enemy  retire,  completely  repulsed  and  with  a  loss  of  quite 
five  thousand  men,  that  of  the  Federal  forces  not  reaching 
above  one-third  that  number.  Competent  critics  say  that  the 
assault  was  the  only  error  of  the  kind  that  Lee  ever  was 


118  THE  TEXTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

guilty  of,  the  single  lesson  being  quite  sufficient.  Notwith 
standing  the  complete  victory  won  by  the  Union  Army,  it  was 
impossible  for  it  to  remain  separated  from  its  base  of  supplies, 
so  during  the  night,  with  the  rear  covered  by  cavalry  and 
infantry,  under  Colonel  J.  T.  Averill,  the  troops  were  with 
drawn  to  Harrison's  Bar  on  the  James,  followed  closely  by 
the  Confederates  who,  finding  the  position  unassailable,  after 
several  days'  observation,  retired  on  the  8th  to  Richmond. 
As  to  the  part  borne  by  the  Tenth  in  this,  its  first  real  fight 
after  Fair  Oaks,  again  let  Captain  Newell  tell  the  story: 

Depleted  in  men,  limited  in  rations,  and  with  a  scanty 
supply  of  ammunition,  the  morning  found  the  worn  and 
wearied  soldiers  ranged  on  the  high  and  dry  position  at  Mal- 
vern,  with  firm  purpose  and  renewed  hopes.  When  the  army 
had  all  arrived,  it  was  posted  with  its  left  and  center  resting 
on  Malvern  Hill,  while  the  right  curved  backward  through 
a  wooded  country,  toward  a  point  below  Haxall's  on 
the  James. 

Malvern  Hill  forms  a  high  plateau,  sloping  to\vards  Richmond 
from  bold  banks  towards  the  river,  and  bounded  by  deep  ravines, 
making  an  excellent  defensive  position.  The  national  line  of  battle 
was  formed  with  Porter's  Corps  on  the  left  near  Crew's  house,  where 
the  artillery  of  the  reserve,  under  Colonel  Hunt,  was  so  disposed  on 
high  ground,  that  a  concentrated  fire  of  sixty  guns  could  be  brought 
to  bear  on  any  point  on  his  front  or  left;  and  on  the  highest  point  on 
the  hill.  Colonel  Tyler  had  ten  siege  guns  in  position. 

Couch's  Division,  to  wrhich  the  Tenth  belonged,  was  placed 
on  the  right  of  Porter;  next  on  the  right  were  Kearney  and 
Hooker;  next,  Sedgwick  and  Richardson;  next,  Smith  and 
Slocum;  then  the  remainder  of  Keyes's  Corps,  extending  in  a 
curve  nearly  to  the  river.  The  Pennsylvania  Reserves  were 
in  rear  of  Porter  and  Couch,  as  a  reserve.  The  left,  where  the 
weight  of  the  attack  was  to  come,  was  very  strong,  and  the 
right  was  strengthened  by  slashings,  and  its  flank  covered 
by  gunboats. 

Artillery  firing  commenced  about  ten  o'clock,  and  continued 
from  time  to  time  until  afternoon,  when  General  Lee  resolved 
to  carry  the  position  by  storm,  and  massed  his  troops  on  his 
right,  and  our  left  for  the  purpose.  About  two  o'clock, 
Anderson's  brigade  of  North  Carolinians  charged  across  the 
plain,  and  were  met  full  in  the  face  by  a  withering  fire  from 
the  Tenth  and  36th  New  York,  and  from  our  batteries  on  the 
hill.  Flesh  and  blood  could  not  stand  the  incessant  fire  to 


JULY  1,  '62  MALVEKX  HILL  119 

which  they  were  exposed;  their  line  wavered  for  a  moment, 
and  then  fell  back  in  confusion,  closely  followed  by  the  Tenth 
and  36th,  who  now  charged  across  the  plain,  and  took  position 
some  distance  in  advance  of  the  one  they  had  previously  held. 
One  battle  flag  was  captured,  (.30th  North  Carolina),  on  which 
was  inscribed,  " Williamsburg "  and  "Seven  Pines,"  and  a 
large  lot  of  prisoners.  The  ground  was  covered  with  their 
dead  and  wounded,  and  for  more  than  an  hour,  prisoners 
kept  coming  in,  some  severely  wounded,  while  a  large  number 
were  entirely  unhurt.  The  attack  and  repulse  had  been  so 
rapid,  that  very  few  casualties  had  occurred  on  our  side.  The 
enemy  were  armed  with  Enfield  rifles  of  a  later  and  better 
manufacture  than  our  own,  and  many  of  our  men  changed 
muskets  advantageously  on  the  battle  field.  After  this  repulse, 
everything  was  quiet  for  some  time,  except  occasional  artillery 
firing,  and  shots  from  the  Rebel  sharpshooters,  posted  in  the 
trees  on  our  front,  who  were  firing  at  our  skirmishers,  and 
picking  off  our  officers.  Here  Major  Miller,  the  gallant  com 
mander  of  the  Tenth,  fell  mortally  wounded  by  a  Minie  ball 
through  the  neck.  He  was  immediately  carried  to  the  rear, 
and  as  tenderly  cared  for  as  the  circumstances  would  allow. 
When  our  Army  fell  back,  he  was  left,  with  the  rest  of  our 
wounded,  under  charge  of  Dr.  Jewett,  who  accompanied  them 
to  Richmond.  Medical  aid  was  of  no  avail,  and  after  lingering 
some  days,  he  died,  and  was  buried  in  Richmond.  His  loss 
to  the  Regiment  was  irreparable.  Born  to  command,  of  firm 
patriotism,  and  unflinching  courage,  he  was  looked  up  to  by 
the  officers  and  men,  as  the  future  commander  of  the  Tenth, 
and  his  fall  cast  a  gloom  over  the  whole  Regiment,  which 
could  not  be  dispelled.  Capt.  Fred  Barton  of  Company  E  was 
now  the  senior  officer  present,  and  for  the  balance  of  the  day 
held  the  men  up  to  their  work,  performing  his  duty  with  great 
credit  and  personal  bravery. 

About  four  o'clock,  the  enemy  prepared  themselves  for 
an  overwhelming  charge,  expecting  to  crush  our  thin  infantry 
line,  which  skirted  the  base  of  the  hill,  and  looked  like  a  long 
blue  ribbon  unrolled.  Their  charging  column  was  formed  in 
three  double  lines  in  the  woods,  out  of  our  sight,  but  the  com 
mands  of  their  officers  could  be  distinctly  heard,  encouraging 
them  for  the  fearful  work  they  were  about  to  attempt.  When 
everything  was  in  readiness,  they  filed  out  of  the  woods  by 
the  flank,  into  the  open  plain,  with  lines  parallel  to  our  own, 
then  fronting,  advanced,  compactly  and  swiftly,  towards  our 
line  of  battle.  But  that  line  was  formed  of  desperate  men, 


120  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

this  was  the  last  ditch,  defeat  would  have  been  the  ruin  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  every  man  that  held  the  line  at 
Malvern  Hill  knew  the  great  interests  that  were  at  stake,  and 
how  much  depended  on  the  issue.  The  very  essence  of  the 
army  was  in  that  line  of  battle,  and  with  bated  breath,  and 
nerves  strained  to  the  highest  pitch,  they  awaited  the  shock. 
Now  opened  the  artillery  on  the  heights;  sixty  cannon,  all 
trained  on  the  advancing  column,  vomited  forth  their  storm 
of  iron  hail,  making  large  rents,  which  were  filled  up,  and 
shoulder  to  shoulder,  seemingly  irresistible,  they  continued  the 
advance.  Every  now  and  then,  a  huge  shell  from  our  gun 
boats  lifted  up  a  whole  platoon.  The  ground  over  which  they 
passed  was  covered  with  their  dead  and  dying,  and  still  their 
column  wavered  not.  Nearer  and  nearer  it  came,  and  the 
wild  southern  yell  was  heard.  Then  our  infantry  opened  fire; 
the  smoke  of  battle  covered  the  field,  lifting  now  and  then; 
men  loaded  and  fired  with  the  rapidity  of  lightning,  and  the 
volleys  were  fired  with  terrible  effect,  right  in  the  faces  of  the 
advancing  foe.  Grape  and  canister,  just  escaping  the  heads 
of  our  own  men,  cut  mercilessly  and  cruelly  the  advancing 
lines.  Human  endurance  had  reached  its  utmost  limits; 
baffled,  broken,  and  utterly  demoralized,  they  turned  and  fled. 
The  slaughter  did  not  stop  there;  the  plain  in  front  at  once 
seemed  filled  with  a  panic-stricken  mass  of  human  beings,  all 
bent  on  the  one  object  of  self-preservation.  As  long  as  any 
were  within  reach,  the  fearful  slaughter  continued. 

In  that  charge,  the  Tenth  lost  many  brave  and  gallant 
men.  Lieut.  Charles  Wheeler  had  an  arm  taken  off  at  the 
shoulder,  while  cheering  his  men  by  example,  as  well  as  words. 
He  had  collected  together  half  a  dozen  muskets,  which  he 
had  loaded  and  was  in  the  act  of  firing  at  the  Rebels.  He  had 
just  called  the  attention  of  the  writer  of  these  pages  to  his 
"battery,"  when  he  was  struck,  and  his  arm  fell  lifeless  by 
his  side.  He  went  with  the  lamented  Miller  to  Richmond;  his 
arm  was  amputated,  and  after  suffering  in  Rebel  prisons,  he 
was  exchanged,  and  rejoined  his  Regiment.  Lieutenants 
Pierce  and  Shurtleff  were  severely  though  not  dangerously 
wounded.  Three  of  the  best  sergeants  fell  that  day,  either 
one  capable  of  commanding  a  company.  Company  B  lost 
Sergeant  Mallory;  Company  E,  Sergeant  McFarlane;  and 
Company  D,  Sergeant  Hemmenway,  all  brave  and  gallant 
officers. 

The  Regiment  had  sixty  rounds  of  cartridges  to  each 
man  when  the  action  commenced.  Every  man  emptied  his 


JULY  1,  '62  MALVERX  HILL  121 

cartridge  box,  and  some  fired  more  than  a  hundred  rounds, 
using  the  ammunition  from  the  boxes  of  the  dead  and  wounded 
on  the  field. 

Every  charge  was  fired,  and  no  more  could  be  obtained. 
Appeals  were  made  to  regiments  in  reserve  to  let  us  have  some 
ammunition  from  their  filled  boxes,  but  they  could  not  spare 
any,  as  they  did  not  know  how  soon  they  might  need  it  them 
selves.  Regiments  were  constantly  being  relieved  that  had 
not  been  in  action  half  as  long  as  the  Tenth,  and  yet  no  relief 
came  for  the  tired  and  weary  boys.  Just  before  dark  a  regi 
ment  marched  up  and  took  their  place.  Only  a  trifle  over 
four  hundred  men  were  in  line  at  the  commencement  of  the 
engagement,  and  of  this  number  eight  were  killed  and  seventy- 
three  wounded,  which  was  a  remarkably  small  number, 
considering  the  time  the  Regiment  was  engaged,  and  the 
fierceness  of  the  struggle.  Many  of  the  wounded  died,  in 
consequence  of  their  wounds  not  being  properly  attended  to. 
The  more  seriously  wounded  wrere  left  to  the  tender  mercies 
of  the  enemy,  and  did  not  receive  the  care  that  was  necessary 
to  restore  them  to  convalescence. 

After  being  relieved,  the  Tenth  marched  to  a  position  just 
in  rear  of  our  batteries,  and  rested  until  midnight. 

CASUALTIES  IN  THE  TENTH,  JULY  1,  1862 

Killed,  Maj.  Ozro  Miller. 

Company  A — Wounded,  Edward  J.  Mallory,  J.  H.  Merrill, 
mortally,  George  Tucker,  Peter  Smith. 

Company  B — Killed,  Serg.  John  W.  Mallory. 

Company  C — Wounded,  Charles  S.  Dodge,  Calvin  B.  Kings- 
ley,  Henry  C.  Burby,  Fred  W.  Clark,  Edward  P.  Nally. 

Company  D — Killed,  Serg.  Haskell  Hemmenway,  Richard 
S.  Collis,  "  Nelson  N.  Griffin.  Wounded,  Lieut.  Charles 
Wheeler,  Abram  Bidgood,  Charles  T.  Goodale,  Crowell  Fair- 
childs,  Thomas  Rieley,  John  Carey,  Charles  Potter,  Orrin  S. 
Bradley,  Frederick  Arbuckle,  Henry  N.  Howard. 

Lieut.  Wheeler  wras  wounded  by  a  shot  from  our  own  bat 
tery;  the  range  was  so  low  that,  though  very  effective,  it 
seriously  endangered  our  own  forces.  When  the  attention  of 
General  Palmer  was  directed  to  the  situation,  he  quickly 
ordered  an  elevation  of  the  aim  of  the  guns. 

Company  E — Killed,  Serg.  Charles  A.  McFarlane.  Wounded, 
Henry  J.  O'Hara,  William  N.  Aiken,  George  Evans,  James 
Kilroy. 

Company  F — Killed,  Thomas  F.  Burke.     Wounded,  Corp. 


122  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Lawrence  Magrath,  mortally;  George  G.  Strickland,  mortally; 
George  D.  Justin,  mortally;  Charles  O.  Boyden,  Chester  S. 
Ellis. 

Company  G — Wounded,  Lieut.  George  Pierce,  Jr.,  Corp. 
Pliney  F.  Mather,  Lewis  H.  Scott. 

Company  H — Wounded,  Corp.  Henry  Daufen,  John  D. 
Allis,  mortally,  Welcome  F.  Cone,  Nelson  Carter,  Murray  J. 
Guilford,  Micajah  H.  Vincent,  J.  M.  Williams,  mortally. 

Company  I— Wounded,  Serg.  Charles  H.  Knapp,  Corp. 
Osmyn  B.  Paull,  William  H.  Atkins,  mortally;  Edward 
Brick,  Charles  H.  Decie,  Michael  F.  Healy. 

Colonel  Parsons  said  he  recommended  Sergt.  Knapp  of 
Company  I  for  promotion  bacause  of  his  remark  at  Malvern 
when  shot  in  the  wrist,  "Boys,  I  can  see  daylight  thro'  me, 
but  that  ain't  going  to  stop  me." 

Company  K — Killed,  James  B.  Lay,  Lawrence  Day. 
Wounded,  Corp.  Joseph  Tinkham,  Willis  W.  Clark,  Isaiah 
Crosby,  Anson  I.  Collier,  Horace  H.  Gorham,  Joseph  Gaddis, 
Thomas  Jarrold,  Albert  Newhouse,  James  M.  Noble,  George 
W.  Thompson. 

The  battle  at  Malvern  Hill  did  much  to  inspire  the  Tenth 
with  renewed  confidence  in  itself.  The  terrible  day  at  Fair 
Oaks  had  a  depressing  influence  which  needed  counteracting. 
Malvern  showed  that,  with  equal  conditions,  the  northern 
troops  would  more  than  match  the  southern  Rebels. 

One  of  those  who  fought  in  the  ranks  had  this  to  say  of  two 
officers  who  distinguished  themselves  at  Malvern: 

We  lost  the  best  man  in  the  Regiment  when  Major  Miller 
fell.  He  it  was  that  led  us  into  the  battle  of  Fair  Oaks,  after 
Colonel  Briggs  was  wounded,  and  rallied  us  so  many  times. 
He  was  a  father  to  all,  and  one  of  the  bravest  men  who  ever 
fell  on  the  battle  field.  Lieutenant  Shurtleff,  in  command  of 
our  Company  (he  is  captain  now)  was  wounded  in  the  breast 
and  fell,  but  his  mighty  strength  and  spirit  sustained  him 
for  a  time.  Not  daunted  by  his  wound  he  remained  long  with 
his  Company  and  not  until  urged  did  he  reluctantly  leave 
the  field. 

HARRISON'S  LANDING 

Wednesday,  July  2d,  the  Regiment  moved  just  after  mid 
night,  from  its  position  back  of  the  batteries,  to  the  place 
where  the  knapsacks  had  been  stacked  and  donning  them 


JULY  2,  '62  HARRISON'S  LANDING  123 

started  for  James  River.  The  march  was  accomplished 
without  that  order  hitherto  characteristic  of  the  campaign, 
every  organization  seeming  intent  on  reaching  its  destina 
tion  in  the  quickest  time  possible.  The  Quartermaster  had 
left  rations  under  guard  a  mile  or  two  in  rear  of  the  battle 
field  with  the  understanding  that  the  Regiment,  as  it  ap 
proached,  should  be  informed  of  the  opportunity  to  fill  the 
haversacks.  Unfortunately,  the  entire  Regiment  except 
Company  I,  which  was  on  the  left,  had  passed  before  the  mes 
sage  was  imparted,  so  that  this  Company  was  the  only  one 
provided,  the  remaining  companies  having  to  go  without  for 
two  days  longer;  not  having  started  with  a  good  supply  the 
deprivation  was  all  the  more  grievous.  At  last  the  immense 
wheat  field  at  Harrison's  Landing  was  reached,  a  consider 
able  portion  of  the  army  having  already  preceded  us  there. 
As  soon  as  positions  had  been  assigned,  our  apologies  for 
shelter  tents  were  erected  and  the  Tenth  rested  in  camp. 

The  entire  Army  of  the  Potomac,  or  what  there  was  left  of 
it,  bivouacked  in  this  wheat  field  in  column  by  division,  the 
area  covered  being  scarcely  larger  than  Hampden  Park  in 
Springfield.  The  luxuriant  growth  of  wheat  in  a  few  hours 
became  an  extended  sea  of  mud.  Absence  of  rations  occa 
sioned  the  boys  not  a  little  discomfort  and  some  of  them 
essayed  foraging  with  results  which  allayed  hunger  pangs  a 
little.  It  must  be  remembered  that  rain  had  been  falling 
since  sunrise  and  as  one  of  the  men  expressed  it,  "The  rain 
fell  as  if  it  had  a  deal  of  raining  to  do  and  only  a  little  time 
to  do  it  in."  Then,  too,  the  enemy,  by  way  of  variety,  must 
needs  throw  a  few  shells  into  the  camp.  As  one  observing 
fellow  expressed  it,  "I  was  homesick  then.  I  thought  if  I 
had  to  get  up  and  march  or  fight  again,  I  cared  very  little 
what  became  of  the  Union  or  myself  either,  but  General 
Kearney  took  a  regiment  of  lancers  that  had  been  around 
headquarters,  doing  nothing,  and  told  them  he  was  going  to 
see  what  they  were  made  of.  Finding  a  battery  of  artillery, 
they  charged  upon  it  and  took  about  four  hundred  prisoners; 
that  ended  the  shelling  and  my  homesickness." 


124  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

The  first  halt  was  not  a  long  one  for  on  the  next  day,  the  3d, 
the  Regiment  moved  forward  about  a  mile  where  breastworks 
were  thrown  up  and  camp  was  once  more  pitched.  The  ever 
memorable  Fourth  of  July  was  observed  by  the  Tenth  in  the 
completion  of  the  line  of  works,  while  salutes  were  fired  at 
noon  in  honor  of  the  day.  During  the  same,  General  McClellan 
rode  through  the  camp.  Several  days  of  quiet  camp  life 
followed,  varied  only  by  the  routine  of  fatigue  and  other  duty. 
The  8th  of  the  month  brought  a  memorable  feature  in  that 
then  President  Lincoln  arrived  at  the  Landing  and  received 
the  customary  salutes.  Though  the  day  was  extremely  hot, 
106°  in  the  shade,  the  President,  with  Generals  McClellan, 
Keyes,  Couch  and  others  rode  the  entire  length  of  our  lines, 
receiving  everywhere  the  most  enthusiastic  cheers.  His  well 
known  regard  for  the  soldiers  was  fully  reciprocated  by  them. 
Another  item  worthy  of  mention  was  the  towing,  by  the 
Monitor,  of  our  old  Rebel  friend,  the  gunboat  Teaser,  down  the 
river,  she  having  been  run  ashore  and  abandoned  by  the  enemy. 

On  the  9th  came  the  muster  for  pay  and  the  information 
that  officers  would  not  be  granted  leave  of  absence  unless  the 
same  be  to  save  their  lives.  Camp  life  continued  in  a  sober- 
like  way,  though  the  scarcity  of  field  officers  occasioned  com 
ment,  (Captain  Lombard  of  Company  F  had  been  in  command 
some  time)  and  the  lack  was  temporarily  supplied  on  the  12th 
when  Lieut.  Col.  Nelson  Viall,  of  the  Second  Rhode  Island,  was 
temporarily  assigned  to  the  command  of  the  Regiment,  an 
event  signalized  by  a  cleaning  up  of  camp  and  quarters  and 
followed,  on  the  13th,  by  an  inspection  of  arms  and  accoutre 
ments  by  the  new  commander.  Evidently,  Colonel  Viall 
made  an  excellent  impression,  for  a  large  number  of  the 
officers  petitioned  Governor  Andrew  that  he  would  assign 
the  Rhode  Islander  to  the  permanent  command  of  the  Regi 
ment.  With  the  loth  came  Asst.  Surgeon  Jewett  who  had 
been  with  the  enemy  after  Malvern,  duty  holding  him  with 
the  wounded  on  that  day  and,  as  a  consequence,  he  had  been 
partaking  of  Rebel  hospitality  which  he  was  in  no  way 
disposed  to  praise.  His  instruments  were  retained  by  the 


JULY  19,  '62  HARRISON'S  LANDING  125 

Confederates,  he  being  told  that  he  could  buy  plenty  more 
when  he  got  back  and,  besides,  his  blankets  and  everything 
capable  of  exciting  Rebel  cupidity  having  been  taken,  there 
need  be  no  wonder  at  his  dislike  of  his  southern  brothers. 

Water,  that  indispensable  adjunct  of  living,  was  not  plenti 
ful  and  the  two  small  springs  near  the  camp  did  not  begin  to 
supply  the  demand.  To  help  out  the  want  a  well  was  dug 
down  through  the  soil  and  underlying  clay,  to  the  depth  of 
forty  feet.  Yankee  ingenuity  furnished  the  means  of  getting 
at  the  liquid  by  way  of  a  lot  of  tangled  telegraph  wire  found 
in  a  broken-down  baggage  wagon,  the  bucket  being  an  ordi 
nary  camp  kettle  and  the  windlass  being  readily  hewn  out 
of  the  near-by  timber.  For  the  early  part  of  the  morning  the 
water  was  clear  and  cold,  but  later  would  get  so  stirred  up  that 
it  was  decidedly  clayish,  thereby  entitling  the  drinker  to 
more  than  his  immediate  portion  of  his  traditional  peck  of 
earth.  The  19th  brought  a  thorough  inspection  at  the  hands 
of  Major  N.  H.  Davis  of  General  McClellan's  staff,  consuming 
a  large  part  of  the  day.  Lieut.  Col.  Decker,  who  resigned  on 
the  17th,  received  his  discharge  and  was  going  home.  Captain 
Walkley  of  Company  K,  whose  resignation  went  in  on  the 
llth  had  already  gone.  Men  who  had  been  in  the  hospitals 
on  account  of  sickness  or  wounds  were  slowly  returning.  A 
source  of  luxury  in  camp  was  a  new  milch  cow  and  she  got 
her  feed  for  the  rnilk  she  gave. 

The  20th  of  the  month  was  Sunday  and  so  quiet  was  the 
same  one  might  fancy  himself  at  home.  Band  music  came 
faintly  to  us  from  the  distance,  but  our  own  musicians  were 
out  of  the  lists  on  account  of  losing  their  instruments,  for  the 
most  part,  in  the  varied  life  of  the  past  month  or  more.  Black 
berries  abounded  and  the  men  picked  them  in  quantities, 
finding  them  most  healthful,  while  another  cow  afforded  a 
delightful  accompaniment  to  those  who  could  get  portions  of 
her  lacteal  product.  As  Lieutenant  Chase  of  Company  K 
had  resigned  June  20th,  officers  in  that  Company  were  scarce. 
The  26th  marked  the  return  to  duty  of  General  Devens,  who 
was  wounded  at  Fair  Oaks  and  whose  place  in  command  of 


126  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

the  Brigade  had  been  held  by  Gen.  I.  N.  Palmer  of  Casey's 
Division.  The  next  day,  Sunday  again,  the  whole  Regiment 
was  detailed  for  picket  duty,  while  Col.  Harrison  Ritchie  of 
Governor  Andrew's  staff  visited  the  camp  to  look  after  the 
welfare  of  the  troops.  This  was  a  mission  on  which  he  was 
sent  by  the  Commonwealth  to  all  her  representatives  in  the 
service  and  it  was  productive  of  a  deal  of  good.  He  was  also 
commissioned  to  canvass  officers  and  men  as  to  their  prefer 
ences  in  the  matter  of  vacancies  among  the  field  officers  of 
the  Tenth,  the  Regiment  having  no  officer  above  the  rank  of 
Captain.  News  came  to  the  men  that  day  that  Major  Miller 
had  died  in  Richmond,  the  loth,  a  little  more  than  two  weeks 
after  his  wound  at  Malvern. 

By  the  30th,  so  inducted  were  the  men  to  the  routine  of 
camp,  drills  were  renewed  and  three  times  a  day,  except 
Saturdays  and  Sundays,  they  went  out  for  what  would  appear 
to  some  the  chief  end  of  a  soldier's  life.  The  last  day  of  one 
week  and  the  first  of  the  next  were  allowed  for  cleaning  up 
and  rest.  Nor  were  the  pests  of  summer,  viz,  flies  and  mos 
quitoes,  lacking;  the  air  was  full  of  them  and  comfort  dis 
appeared  in  their  presence.  At  2.00  p.  m.  of  the  30th,  came 
orders  to  pack  up  and  be  ready  to  move  at  a  moment's  warn 
ing.  Rumor  was  again  on  the  wing,  this  time  to  the  effect 
that  a  Rebel  ram  wras  to  make  a  trial  trip  down  the  James  and 
that  a  heavy  land  force  would  accompany  her.  We  marched 
to  the  front  and,  after  a  three  hours'  stay,  returned  to  camp. 
On  the  last  day  of  July,  First  Sergt.  N.  P.  A.  Blais,  Company 
B,  died  of  typhoid  fever.  He  had  not  been  considered  in  a 
dangerous  condition  until  a  few  moments  before  his  death. 
His  commission  as  Second  Lieutenant,  bearing  date  of  June 
21st,  was  received  a  few  hours  after  his  final  departure. 

Friday,  August  1st,  the  enemy  got  active  and  bringing 
down  a  battery  began  a  furious  shelling  of  our  camps  and  the 
transports  in  the  river,  but  the  training  of  a  few  gunboats  on 
the  intruders  soon  sent  them  scurrying  away.  The  estab 
lishing  of  an  adequate  force  across  the  river  on  Coggin's  Point 
prevented  such  episodes  in  the  future.  August  2d  brought  the 


AUG.  1,  '62  HARRISON'S  LANDING  127 

paymaster  and  likewise  the  sutler,  who  seemed  to  be  insep 
arable  companions,  the  soldiers  being  only  the  means  of 
transferring  or  passing  the  funds  from  one  to  the  other. 
Captain  Parsons  of  Company  C,  so  seriously  wounded  at  Fair 
Oaks,  was  just  back  and  his  coming  was  heartily  welcomed 
by  his  men.  Matters  were  beginning  to  lose  some  of  their 
commonplace  character  and  signs  of  activity  were  seen, 
heavy  firing  being  heard  on  the  5th  in  the  direction  of  Malvern 
and  we  were  ordered  to  hold  ourselves  in  readiness  to  march 
at  any  moment.  At  dress  parade  came  the  orders  to  move 
at  seven  o'clock  and,  as  that  hour  was  only  ten  minutes  off, 
we  hurried  our  very  best  to  obey,  but  it  was  half  past  eight 
before  the  division  was  under  way. 

Three  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  6th  brought  the  Regi 
ment  to  Haxall's  where  a  halt  was  had  for  the  day.  It  appears 
from  subsequent  knowledge  that  this  was  an  advance  under 
the  direction  of  General  Hooker,  McClellan  having  been  in 
formed  that  the  enemy  was  not  in  force  anywhere  in  his  imme 
diate  front.  After  getting  well  fixed  for  the  night,  at  eight 
o'clock  came  the  orders  to  advance  towards  Malvern,  but 
after  two  miles'  march  in  that  direction  we  faced  about  and 
plodded  back  to  our  original  camp  at  Harrison's,  getting 
there  a  little  before  4.00  a.  m.,  Thursday,  the  7th.  While 
Hooker  was  able  to  burn  a  quantity  of  matter  collected  by  the 
enemy  and  General  Averill  with  his  cavalry  had  driven  all 
indications  of  the  foe  beyond  the  White  Oak  Swamp  bridge, 
nothing  further  came  of  the  expedition. 

This  part  of  Virginia  in  which  the  army  now  finds  itself 
is  classic  in  the  story  of  the  Old  Dominion;  Harrison's 
Landing  perpetuates  the  name  of  a  family  that  gave  a  Signer 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence  and  two  Presidents  of  the 
United  States,  and  Berkeley,  where  W.  H.  Harrison  was  born 
was  used  as  a  hospital  and  signal  station.  On  the  9th,  a 
portion  of  the  Regiment  was  doing  picket  duty  at  the  front, 
with  headquarters  in  the  very  house  in  which  Thomas  Jeffer 
son  was  married,  January  1,  1772.  A  Mrs.  Clark  was  the 
chief  occupant,  her  husband  and  son  being  in  the  Confederate 


128  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

service,  and  with  her  was  a  young  lady  whose  home  on  Mal- 
vern  Hill  was  destroyed  during  the  battle.  There  was  not  a 
little  pride  in  the  manner  of  Mrs.  Clark  as  she  showed  the 
room  in  which  the  subsequent  framer  of  the  Declaration  stood 
by  the  side  of  Mrs.  Martha  Skelton  as  they  were  pronounced 
husband  and  wife.  She  was  a  daughter  of  John  Wayles,  one 
of  the  landed  aristrocrats  of  the  state,  and  his  death  the 
following  year,  leaving  40,000  acres  of  farm  land  and  one 
hundred  and  thirty-five  slaves,  made  Jefferson  the  richest 
Democrat  in  the  country.  All  this  might  not  have  occurred 
to  the  young  Yankees  who  inspected  the  mansion,  but  they  were 
alive  to  the  fact  that  here  and  near  dwelt  many  of  the  famous 
F.  F.  V.'s  and  they  gazed  upon  the  scene  admiringly;  at  the 
same  time  no  feeling  of  reverence  prevented  the  cavalrymen 
running  off  with  the  corn  they  found  on  the  estate  to  feed  their 
famishing  horses,  and  the  fact  that  men  would  smoke  their 
pipes  on  the  piazza  filled  the  heart  of  the  gentle  hostess  with 
indignation.  Still  nothing  of  this  sort  hindered  her  sending 
out  pillows  and  spreads  to  render  the  officers  of  the  picket 
comfortable  at  night. 

Though  subsequent  days  were  very  quiet,  yet  the  loading 
of  boats  with  surplus  baggage  had  every  appearance  of  early 
departure.  On  the  llth  the  Regimental  Band  having  been 
mustered  out  in  accordance  with  G.  O.  No.  78,  they  started 
home.  The  13th  of  August  marked  the  election  by  the 
officers  of  the  Rev.  A.  J.  Bingham  of  Westfield  as  Chaplain 
and  his  commission  bore  the  same  date.  Another  incident  of 
the  day  was  the  reporting  for  duty  of  Asst.  Surgeon  Albert 
B.  Robinson  of  Holden;  he  was  commissioned  on  the  9th  and 
evidently  started  at  once.  The  15th  is  not  only  remembered 
as  the  date  of  receiving  orders  to  pack  up  quickly  and  be 
ready  for  immediate  moving  but  also  as  the  time  when  the 
boys  played  a  Yankee  trick  on  the  unsuspecting  Rebels.  Let 
one  of  the  actors  tell  his  own  story: 

After  packing  for  the  march  we  had  an  amusing  time  making 
effigies  for  the  benefit  of  the  enemy  when  they  came.  Some 
were  dressed  in  military  style  with  knapsack  and  musket 


AUG.  16,  '62  YORKTOWN  129 

and  were  posted  on  the  breastworks  as  sentinels.  Others 
were  mounted  on  old  horses  left  to  die.  Wooden  cannon, 
mounted,  with  straw  artillerists  to  man  them,  some  swinging 
from  trees  by  their  necks,  was  a  hint  to  "  Jeff"  and  his  leaders. 
So  many  of  these  figures  were  placed  along  the  lines  they 
really  held  back  the  advance  of  the  enemy. 

The  same  writer  commenting  on  the  prospective  movement 
says,  "Here  we've  been  for  more  than  a  month  building 
redoubts  and  'forts,  cutting  timber,  digging  wells  forty  feet 
deep,  and  getting  camp  ready  for  something  like  comfort  and 
then  comes  the  command  to  get  up  and  clear  out,"  a  sentiment 
probably  uttered  or  at  least  thought,  a  million  times  during 
the  four  years  of  fighting. 

YORKTOWN 

With  six  days'  rations,  at  six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the 
16th  day  of  August  the  Regiment  began  its  retrograde  march 
towards  Yorktown.  Few  regrets  were  expressed  over  leaving 
the  Landing  and  the  neighboring  country,  there  being  too 
many  memories  of  fever  and  malaria  incident  to  its  swamps 
and  low  lying  territory.  The  start  was  slow  on  account  of 
difficulties  in  straightening  out  the  baggage  train,  the  troops 
marching  further  from  the  river,  and  thereby  serving  as  guards 
for  the  train  which  moved  in  the  most  direct  manner  possible. 
The  halt  for  the  night  was  near  Charles  City  Court  House. 
Sunday,  the  17th,  the  retreat  continued  with  the  privilege  of 
foraging  freely  on  the  country.  Green  corn  was  abundant; 
apples,  peaches  and  plums,  as  well  as  poultry  helped  to  extend 
the  rations  provided  by  the  Government.  Horses  and  mules 
also  became  contraband  and  were  useful  in  bearing  the 
burdens  of  wearied  soldiers.  At  nightfall,  the  Chickahominy 
River  was  crossed  near  its  mouth  on  a  pontoon  bridge,  almost 
half  a  mile  long,  and  camp  was  pitched  on  its  eastern  shore. 
The  march  of  the  18th  took  us  through  Williamsburg  and  the 
battle  field  of  May  5th.  Nature  was  doing  her  best  to  erase 
the  scars  of  battle,  but  little  difficulty  was  had  identifying  the 
prominent  features  of  the  bloody  encounter.  Sore  feet  and 
general  weariness  prevailed  on  the  19th  to  the  extent  that 


130  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

the  march  was  hardly  begun  before  it  ended,  but  the  reveille 
at  4.00  a.  m.  of  the  20th  started  the  line  at  half  past  five, 
reaching  the  bank  of  York  River,  three  miles  away,  where 
we  halted  for  half  an  hour,  thence  going  through  Yorktown 
and  two  miles  beyond,  camping  in  a  peach  orchard. 

Here,  or  in  the  immediate  vicinity,  the  Tenth  was  to  remain 
for  the  following  ten  days.  Friday,  the  22d,  the  Regiment 
moved  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile,  close  by  a  spring  of 
clear  water,  always  needful,  and  here  also  was  received  the 
first  mail  in  eight  days.  Just  how  the  boys  improved  the 
stay  in  the  vicinity  let  one  of  them  describe: 

This  was  a  good  place  for  fishing,  foraging  and  bathing. 
It  became  evident  that  we  were  about  to  leave  the  Peninsula, 
so  what  we  could  find  we  claimed  and  confiscated,  not  wishing 
to  leave  a  straw  that  would  benefit  the  enemy.  The  country 
was  scoured  for  miles  and  well  drained  of  potatoes,  fruit, 
fowls,  pigs  and  beef.  Many  needlessly  destroyed  property 
and  cattle.  When  I  say  that  cattle  were  killed  in  the  yard 
of  the  owner  and  only  the  liver  and  heart  taken,  I  tell  the 
truth.  It  was  cruel  to  do  so,  but  the  owners  were  enemies 
and  this  was  done  to  show  our  anger  and  feelings  towards  them. 

Captain  J.  B.  Parsons  of  Company  C  assumed  command  of 
the  Regiment  August  24th,  as  Lieutenant  Colonel,  though 
his  commission  dated  from  July  15th.  Colonel  Briggs  was 
still  absent,  having  been  promoted  Brigadier  General,  and 
his  position  continued  vacant  through  the  month.  The  troops 
were  constantly  leaving  by  land  or  water,  imtil  on  the  26th, 
only  Couch's  and  a  part  of  Peck's  remained,  with  Dame  Rumor 
more  active  than  ever.  During  these  days  a  large  part  of  the 
Tenth  was  engaged  in  leveling  the  fortifications  about  York- 
town  and  in  filling  rifle  pits,  etc.  Captain  Lombard  of  Com 
pany  F  was  sick  in  the  hospital,  Captain  Ives  of  Company  A 
had  gone  home  on  sick  leave,  and  out  of  thirty  commissioned 
officers  only  thirteen  were  on  duty. 

The  Peninsula  Campaign  was  ended.  Beginning  with  the 
landing  at  Hampton,  March  28th,  there  had  followed  five 
months  of  almost  continuous  hostility  and  now,  with  sadly 
diminished  ranks,  the  Potomac  Army  was  to  re-establish 


AUG.  27,  '62  DEPARTURE  AND  NEW  OFFICERS  131 

itself  very  near  the  place  whence  it  emerged  the  preceding 
spring.  Thousands  had  fallen  in  battle,  many  more  had 
died  or  been  discharged  through  disease,  and  the  plan  of 
taking  the  Confederate  Capital  from  this  direction  was 
abandoned.  Yet  after  other  battles  of  unparalleled  magni^ 
tude  and  fierceness,  waged  all  the  way  from  Fredericksburg 
to  Gettysburg,  with  vastly  greater  loss  of  human  life,  two 
years  later  the  Union  armies  under  Grant  were  found  warring 
with  those  of  Lee  over  practically  the  same  territory  and  for 
the  same  end,  the  capture  of  Richmond.  McClellan  is  known 
to  have  felt  sure  that  the  way  to  the  Capital  was  on  the  south 
side  of  the  James.  Time  and  Grant  proved  the  correctness 
of  his  view.  Possibly,  in  the  earlier  days  of  the  Confederacy 
the  resistance  to  the  Federal  attack  would  have  been  stronger 
and  only  the  completely  worn-out  condition  of  the  Confeder 
ates  in  1864-65  rendered  their  defeat  possible.  The  strict 
religionist  will  say  that  not  till  Confederate  strength  was 
utterly  exhausted  did  it  please  the  Almighty  to  render  victory 
into  Union  hands. 

DEPARTURE  AND  NEW  OFFICERS 

Perhaps  no  personal  incident  in  the  history  of  the  Regiment 
was  fraught  with  so  much  importance  to  the  organization, 
as  the  commissioning  of  Dexter  F.  Parker  of  Worcester  as 
Major  in  place  of  Marsh,  resigned.  His  commission  was  given 
August  12th,  and  was  first  brought  to  the  attention  of  the 
officers  by  General  Devens  who  had  just  come  back  to  the 
brigade  and  had  found  the  notice  in  a  Boston  paper.  Natu 
rally,  the  news  came  to  those  interested  with  a  deal  of  surprise ; 
captains  who  had  faithfully  and  successfully  performed  their 
duties  viewed  the  coming  into  the  Major's  position  of  an 
entire  stranger  with  no  little  aversion.  Upon  his  arrival, 
the  27th,  Major  Parker  called  a  meeting  of  the  line  officers 
in  his  tent  and  there  told  them  of  his  appointment  by  the 
Governor,  and  of  the  deference  he  expected  from  them,  not 
withstanding  their  hostility,  for  which  he  was  prepared.  The 
response  received  from  the  officers  was  in  no  way  calculated 


132  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

to  smooth  the  strained  relations  henceforth  to  exist  between 
them,  since  they  explicitly  stated  that  while  they  were  pre 
pared  to  observe  military  courtesy,  he  was  not  to  construe 
the  same  as  due  to  personal  regard.  Rather  a  frigid  reception 
for  the  officer  who,  hitherto,  had  been  accustomed  to  receive 
the  respect  and  plaudits  of  his  Worcester  fellow  citizens  as 
one  of  the  most  cherished  and  esteemed  in  their  midst.  Any 
former  division  of  sentiment  among  these  officers  was  for 
gotten  in  their  common  dislike  of  the  situation  in  which  they 
found  themselves,  nor  did  time  serve  as  a  healer  of  the  breach 
and  the  eventual  outcome  was  to  be  the  withdrawal  of  the 
majority  of  the  officers  from  the  service. 

Of  his  own  sentiments,  Captain  Newell  remarks: 

The  appointment  of  Major  Parker  was  one  of  those  inex 
plicable  circumstances  brought  about  by  personal  and  political 
influences  and  friendships,  through  self-appointed  guardians 
and  meddlers,  and  the  Tenth  was  not  the  only  regiment  from 
Massachusetts  that  suffered  from  the  same  cause.  Major 
Parker  was,  undoubtedly,  one  of  the  bravest  men  of  Massa 
chusetts,  and  would  have  done  honor  to  a  new  regiment,  of 
which  there  were  several  then  forming;  but  his  qualifications 
and  excellencies  were  lost  when  brought  into  the  Tenth, 
where  ninety  out  of  every  hundred  men  in  the  Regiment 
stood  his  peer  in  bravery,,  and  excelled  him  in  all  the  other 
requirements  for  the  position  which  he  was  appointed  to  fill. 

The  following  from  Schouler's  "Massachusetts  in  the  Civil 
War,"  carries  its  own  explanation: 

"Dexter  F.  Parker,  who  had  resigned  his  commissariat  to 
go  into  the  line,  is  highly  recommended  by  General  Devens 
for  a  majorship  in  the  Tenth.  Captain  Parker  said  he  would 
not  go  into  the  Regiment,  but  on  the  suggestion  that  the 
Regiment  might  get  Captain  (James  J.)  Dana  for  Colonel, 
Parker  said  that  in  such  a  case  he  would  be  too  glad  to  go 
into  it;  that  he  knew  Dana  well,  and  considered  him  one  of 
the  entirely  honest  and  reliable  men  and  gentlemen  in  the 
quartermaster's  department." 

The  words  in  quotation  marks  were  those  of  Colonel  Ritchie 
of  the  Governor's  staff  in  his  report  and  would  appear  to 
implicate  General  Devens  in  the  appointment  of  Major  Parker 
and  it  would  have  been  strange  if  an  officer  as  well  acquainted 


AUG.  29,  '62  ALEXANDRIA  133 

with  Parker  as  the  General  was,  having  been  associated  with 
him,  in  many  ways,  during  several  years  of  Worcester 
acquaintance  should  not  improve  the  opportunity  to  help 
advance  an  old  friend. 

The  same  officer,  Colonel  Ritchie,  in  his  report  states  that 
the  Tenth  Regiment  desired  to  have  an  army  officer  in  place 
of  Colonel  Briggs,  wounded  and  promoted  brigadier  general, 
and  the  commission  of  Henry  L.  Eustis,  a  West  Point  graduate, 
though  long  a  professor  in  the  Lawrence  Scientific  School, 
was  already  written.  He  was  not  exactly  of  the  active  army 
but  he  certainly  had  all  the  requirements  for  his  position. 
Dated  August  loth,  the  new  Colonel  did  not  present  himself 
until  the  Regiment  reached  Alexandria.  Notwithstanding 
the  prospect  of  early  leaving,  the  side  occupation  of  digging 
was  kept  up  while  orders  were  received  for  the  maintaining 
of  three  days'  cooked  rations  against  the  arrival  of  daily 
expected  transports,  though  no  one  knew  aught  of  the  desti 
nation  of  the  Regiment. 

ALEXANDRIA 

Friday,  the  29th,  saw  the  much  expected  change,  in  that, 
after  packing  up  at  6.30  a.  m.  and  marching  through  York- 
town,  there  was  a  rest  until  6.00  p.  m.  when  all,  bag  and  bag 
gage,  went  on  board  the  Key  West,  a  new  screw-steamer  in 
Government  service.  The  following  day,  after  the  embarka 
tion  of  the  remainder  of  the  brigade,  having  in  tow  a  barque 
containing  the  Seventh  Massachusetts,  the  start  by  water 
was  made  at  noon.  The  last  day  of  the  month  beheld  the 
procession,  moving  very  slowly,  entering  the  Potomac  River 
at  about  daylight.  The  Government  pilot,  taken  on  board  at 
Yorktown,  was  striken  with  apoplexy  and  lay  unconscious  in 
a  stateroom.  Darkness  brought  the  third  trip  of  the  Tenth 
on  the  Potomac  to  an  end  and  at  anchor  off  the  wharfs  of 
Alexandria. 

With  the  first  day  of  September  came  variety  enough  to 
fully  offset  the  sameness  of  the  late  water  trip.  Leaving  the 
steamer  in  the  forenoon,  the  Regiment  bivouacked  till  after- 


134  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

noon  near  the  landing  and  then,  under  orders,  started  for 
Fairfax  Court  House  to  have  a  part  in  the  campaign  of 
General  John  Pope,  who  having  proclaimed  his  headquarters 
in  the  saddle,  was  in  sore  need  of  fresh  troops.  Accompanied 
by  the  customary  rain  storm,  and  dividing  the  roadway  with 
Pope's  great  baggage  train,  which  was  hurrying  towards 
Alexandria,  we  picked  our  course  as  best  we  could.  There 
was  heavy  firing  towards  the  west  which  proved  to  be  at  the 
battle  of  Chantilly,  in  which  fell  Generals  Phil.  Kearney  and 
I.  I.  Stevens,  the  latter  a  Masachusetts  man.  Perhaps  nine 
miles  had  been  marched,  when,  towards  midnight,  came 
pressing  orders  to  hurry  forward;  and  at  the  same  time  came 
express  directions  to  return  to  Alexandria.  Obedience  to  both 
orders  being  impossible,  it  was  deemed  best  to  remain  where 
we  were,  securing  such  rest  as  possible  under  the  circumstances. 
Earlier  in  the  day,  finding  the  camp  of  the  34th  Massachusetts 
near,  certain  of  the  men  from  Spencer  improved  the  oppor 
tunity  to  exchange  greetings  with  old  friends  from  the  same 
hilltop  town,  they  having  left  home  fully  a  year  later  than 
those  of  the  Tenth. 

On  the  2d,  definite  orders  came  to  return  to  Alexandria, 
whither  we  went,  encamping  near  Fairfax  Seminary,  but 
only  briefly,  since  we  were  soon  ordered  to  Chain  Bridge. 
Unfortunately  the  Regiment  was  guided  to  Ball's  Cross 
Roads,  fully  nine  miles  out,  reaching  there  about  ten  o'cock 
at  night  and,  footsore  and  weary,  there  lay  down  to  rest. 
The  3d,  by  starting  early,  efforts  were  made  to  repair  the 
fault  of  the  preceding  day  and  Chain  Bridge  was  reached  just 
before  noon.  There  we  camped,  just  where  we  were  six  months 
before,  when  we  essayed  our  mud  march  into  Virginia.  On  this 
day  also,  Colonel  Eustis,  who  found  the  Regiment  in  Alex 
andria,  assumed  command.  The  day  was  signalized,  more 
over,  by  a  dress  parade  which  was  observed  with  absorbing 
interest  by  certain  new  regiments,  just  down  from  the  North. 
However  much  we  might  burnish  up  what  regimentals  we 
possessed,  we  could  not  overcome  certain  lackings,  painfully 
apparent;  thus  fifteen  men  had  to  appear  in  their  drawers, 


NORTHWARD  135 

minus  trousers,  and  twenty  were  barefoot,  but  the  deficiencies 
did  not  prevent  all  handling  their  guns  in  a  manner  to  draw 
enthusiastic  applause  from  the  white-gloved  soldiery  to  whom 
the  realities  of  war  were  yet  unknown.  With  so  much  moving 
about,  rations  had  become  scarce  and  hunger,  under  the  very 
dome  of  the  Capitol,  became  a  possibility. 

Rations  were  drawn  from  Fort  Ethan  Allen  on  the  5th,  and 
at  4.00  p.  m.,  crossing  the  Chain  Bridge,  we  marched  through 
Tenallytown  towards  Poolesville,  camping  in  a  meadow, 
about  nine  miles  out.  Starting  the  next  morning  before 
breakfast  we  marched  only  a  short  distance.  On  the  7th  a 
patrol  from  the  Tenth  was  sent  out  to  pick  up  stragglers, 
while  the  9th  brought  the  Regiment  to  Seneca  Falls,  on  the 
Maryland  side  of  the  Potomac.  Poolesville  was  passed  on 
the  llth  and  on  the  12th  Lieut.  Col.  Parsons  was  attacked 
by  a  fever  and  left  at  Barnesville  as  we  passed  through.  Two 
days  later,  after  fording  the  Monocacy  River  in  the  morning, 
we  were  near  Sugar  Loaf  mountain.  Heavy  cannonading 
was  heard  up  the  river,  this  being  the  attack  of  Stonewall 
Jackson  on  Harper's  Ferry  which  resulted  later  in  the  sur 
render  of  the  place.  Sunday,  the  14th,  after  a  march  of  fifteen 
miles,  we  were  in  sight  of  Burkittsville  at  about  noon.  Higher 
up,  in  Crampton's  Pass  of  South  Mountain,  Confederate  Gen. 
Howell  Cobb,  with  three  brigades  of  Georgians,  was  trying  to 
hold  the  pass  against  the  combined  forces  of  Slocum  and  W. 
F.  Smith.  It  was  the  privilege  of  the  Tenth  to  see  others  go 
in  and  win  a  glorious  victory.  We  could  follow  the  Federal 
advance,  see  the  enemy  sturdily  resist  till  the  Union  forces 
were  almost  within  touching  distance  when  the  Rebels  broke 
and  ran,  to  be  cut  down  as  they  fled.  This  opposition  of  the 
Confederates  was  made  to  prevent  our  forces  trying  to  raise 
the  siege  of  Harper's  Ferry  and  the  delay  was  sufficient,  for 
before  aid  could  reach  the  beleagured  garrison,  Colonel  D.  S. 
Miles  had  surrendered  the  place  with  all  its  armament  and 
troops,  the  most  disheartening  event  of  the  kind  during  the 
entire  course  of  the  war. 

Our  Regiment  got  away  very  early  on  the  morning  of  the 


136  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

15th  and  marched  to  the  sound  of  the  enemy's  guns  which 
kept  up  a  furious  cannonading  until  about  8.00  a.  m., 
when  they  suddenly  ceased,  the  reason  soon  appearing  in  the 
news  that  the  white  flag  had  done  its  work  and  more  than 
three  score  cannon,  13,000  stand  of  small  arms,  200  wagons, 
and  fully  12,000  soldiers  had  been  passed  into  the  hands  of 
the  enemy.  It  took  many  a  day  to  reinspirit  the  North  after 
the  Harper's  Ferry  disaster,  while  the  captured  and  paroled 
prisoners  never  ceased  to  lament  the  ill  fortune  which  so 
suddenly  nipped  their  martial  aspirations. 

ANTIETAM 

The  bloodiest  single  day's  fight  of  the  entire  war  has  no 
place  on  the  battle  roll  of  the  Tenth,  but  it  was  through  no 
fault  of  officers  or  men.  Ordered  to  the  relief  of  Harper's 
Ferry,  we  have  seen  the  Regiment  on  its  way  thither,  reaching 
Sandy  Hook,  about  a  mile  from  the  Ferry,  when  orders  came 
for  us  to  about  face  and  march  with  all  speed  to  Antietam, 
whose  battle  roar  had  been  in  our  ears  all  the  day.  Notwith 
standing  every  possible  effort,  the  distance  was  too  great  to 
be  overcome  before  the  fight  was  over,  though  much  of  their 
march  had  been  at  double  quick  and,  reaching  the  field  at 
dark,  the  men  threw  themselves  on  the  ground  and  waited 
for  daylight.  The  morning  of  the  18th  found  the  Regiment 
in  position  on  the  right  in  the  front  line  and  awaiting  the 
onslaught.  This  the  enemy  did  not  appear  inclined  to  make 
and,  save  for  the  firing  on  the  skirmish  line,  the  day  was 
quiet,  in  the  afternoon  there  being  a  suspension  of  hostilities 
for  the  removal  of  wounded  and  burial  of  the  dead.  In  momen 
tary  expectation  of  a  renewal  of  the  great  battle,  the  Union 
line  held  itself  in  readiness  for  the  attack  which  did  not  come. 
By  the  morrow  the  battle  would  begin  again,  everyone  be 
lieved,  but  the  morning  of  the  19th  revealed  the  surprising 
fact  that  during  the  night  the  enemy  had  quietly  "folded  his 
tents  like  the  Arab  and  as  silently  stolen  away,"  leaving  his 
dead  and  wounded  in  our  hands. 


SEPT.  17,  '62  ANTIETAM  137 

Wonder  and  curiosity  mingled  in  the  emotions  of  the  Union 
Army  as  the  truth  became  known  and,  naturally,  many  crossed 
over  to  the  late  camping  ground  of  the  enemy  to  see  what  it 
was  like.  A  sudden  halt  was  suggested  when  a  whizzing  shell 
passed  over  the  heads  of  certain  scouts  of  the  Tenth  and 
struck  some  distance  in  the  rear  of  the  regiments  near  a  num 
ber  of  recruits  who,  under  the  conduct  of  Lieut.  G.  W.  Bigelow 
of  Company  F,  had  just  arrived.  The  shell,  however,  was  the 
last  token  from  the  retiring  foe  who  was  then  crossing  the 
river  at  Sharpsburg.  The  new  men  had  been  forwarded 
without  arms  or  accoutrements  and  they  could  not  have  come 
up  at  a  more  opportune  moment,  so  far  as  a  complete  outfit 
was  concerned.  The  field  was  strewn  with  everything  that 
they  needed  and  all  anyone  had  to  do  was  to  walk  about  and 
help  himself.  But  what  an  introduction  to  the  embryo 
soldier  that  terrible  field  of  Antietam  must  have  been!  Had 
he  cherished  any  delusive  fancy  as  to  the  romance  of  war, 
the  rapidly  swelling  bodies  of  lately  active,  thinking  men 
must  have  reduced  him  to  the  hardpan  of  solid  facts  with 
sickening  haste. 

It  was  about  noon  when  column  was  formed  and  the  pursuit 
began,  passing  soon  through  the  village  of  Sharpsburg,  the 
source  of  the  Confederate  name  for  the  great  battle,  while 
the  Union  appellation  comes  from  Antietam  creek,  over  whose 
waters  stood  the  bridge,  to  be  known  thereafter  as  Burnside's. 
The  hamlet  showed  the  marks  of  battle  in  no  mistaken  form. 
Scarcely  a  house  had  escaped,  the  poor  inhabitants  having 
taken  refuge  in  their  cellars  during  the  engagement.  Now 
they  came  forth  to  hail  the  Yankees  with  every  expression 
of  joy  and  fealty,  exhibiting  the  portraits  of  McClellan  as 
those  of  a  liberator  while  the  soldiers  themselves  lost  no 
opportunity  to  cheer  to  the  echo  any  appearance  of  their 
favorite  leader.  The  passage  of  the  troops  through  Sharps 
burg  presented  a  scene  not  often  witnessed.  Marching  by 
fours,  three  regiments  abreast,  filling  the  street  from  curb  to 
curb,  all  at  right  shoulder-shift  and  with  bayonets  fixed,  the 
bright  sun  shining  on  glistening  steel  and  the  refulgent  gold 


138  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

of  the  flags,  everything  combined  to  make  a  picture  of  human 
magnificence  never  equalled  before. 

A  little  way  beyond  the  town,  a  halt  was  ordered  and  camp 
was  pitched,  but  before  midnight  we  were  roused  with  orders 
to  hasten  to  Williamsport  to  prevent  the  recrossing  of  the 
river  by  the  enemy,  but  when  five  miles  from  our  destination, 
we  learned  that  the  crossing  had  already  been  effected  and 
that  the  town  was  occupied  in  force,  so  we  halted  for  the 
remainder  of  the  Division  to  come  up.  Here  the  20th  found 
us,  and  at  dusk  we  advanced,  driving  in  the  skirmishers  of 
the  enemy,  while  their  line  of  battle  fell  back  and  recrossed 
the  river,  shelling  us  furiously  from  their  vantage  ground, 
but  as  we  judiciously  retired,  we  were  soon  out  of  range  of 
their  missiles.  To  show  how  the  serious  and  the  fanciful  in 
life  are  mingled  this  characteristic  incident  finds  place  among 
those  of  that  busy  day:  "We  found  a  nice  field  of  potatoes 
near  where  we  were  in  line  and,  as  we  were  very  fond  of  new 
potatoes,  we  thought  we  would  take  a  few.  As  there  were  a 
good  many  of  us  and  not  a  very  large  field  of  potatoes,  I  am 
afraid  the  man  who  owned  the  field  did  not  get  a  great  many 
of  them." 

During  the  21st  and  22d,  the  Regiment  encamped  and 
rested,  the  foe  having  departed  from  the  immediate  vicinity. 
On  the  23d  we  moved  about  two  and  a  half  miles  nearer 
Downsville  and  the  next  day  again  approached  said  village 
a  quarter  of  a  mile.  The  25th  was  a  significant  day  since  then 
we  mustered  for  pay,  and  pay  certainly  was  needed.  The  men 
were  in  a  woeful  plight  in  the  line  of  clothing.  Many  were 
shoeless  and  shirtless  and  the  officers  not  much  better.  For 
almost  a  month  this  place  was  to  be  the  camp  home  of  the 
Tenth  and  if  the  men  had  only  known  the  future,  they  might 
have  made  themselves  much  more  comfortable  than  they 
were;  at  the  same  time  they  found  the  vicinity  very  well 
supplied  with  the  necessities  and  many  of  the  luxuries  of  life. 
It  was  at  this  camp  that  the  resignations  of  certain  officers 
were  tendered  to  Colonel  Eustis.  The  date,  Sept.  27th,  made 
a  life-long  impression  on  the  minds  of  all  concerned. 


SEPT.  27,  '62  OFFICERS  RESIGN  139 

OFFICERS  RESIGN 

Almost  half  a  century  intervenes  between  that  parade 
occasion  on  the  afternoon  of  the  day  itself,  and  as  long  as 
they  lived  not  one  of  the  officers  directly  interested  could 
forget,  for  an  instant,  the  impression  made  when  the  Colonel, 
at  said  parade,  stated  that  he  had  received  but  had  not  for 
warded  the  papers,  hoping  that  on  second  thought,  the  officers 
would  withdraw  them.  How  many  a  heartache  had  been 
prevented  had  some  good  angel  whispered  compliance  to  these 
men,  but  their  grievance,  to  them,  was  of  too  serious  a  character 
to  admit  of  any  deflection  from  the  course  decided  upon. 
It  will  be  remembered  that  when  Major  Dexter  F.  Parker  was 
commissioned  in  the  Regiment  he  was  not  received  with  that 
enthusiasm  which  he  may  have  hoped  to  experience,  and  his 
presence  was  tolerated  rather  than  enjoyed.  Biding  their 
time  until,  as  they  thought,  the  accusation  of  resigning  in 
the  face  of  the  enemy  could  not  apply,  they  sent  in  their 
papers  together,  a  very  serious  blunder,  unless  they  were 
anxious  for  trouble.  Captain  Newell,  whose  annals  of  the 
Regiment  have  been  so  generally  read,  tells  the  story  thus 
for  the  27th,  which,  it  will  be  observed,  was  just  ten  days 
after  Antietam : 

That  day  eleven  officers  of  the  Regiment  tendered  their 
resignations,  feeling  aggrieved  at  the  appointment  of  Dexter 
F.  Parker  to  the  position  of  Major  of  the  Regiment,  this  being 
the  first  opportunity  since  the  Major's  appearance  on  the 
stage,  when  the  Regiment  might  be  said  not  to  be  in  "the 
face  of  the  enemy."  Captain  Newell 's  was  the  first,  quickly 
followed  by  Clapp's,  Traver's,  and  Pierce's,  and  all  of  the 
lieutenants  except  three,  and  one  of  those  wrote  his,  but  being 
detailed  for  picket  duty,  did  not  have  time  to  send  it  in,  and 
upon  his  return  to  camp  finding  nearly  all  the  officers  under 
arrest,  wisely  tore  up  his  resignation,  and  escaped  the  troubles 
and  tribulations  that  followed,  The  officers  who  'resigned 
were  Captains  Thomas  W.  Clapp  (D),  George  Pierce  (G), 
Samuel  C.  Traver  (B),  Joseph  K.  Newell,  (I);  Lieutenants 
Hiram  A.  Keith  (Adjt.),  Joseph  H.  Bennett  (I),  Lorenzo  M. 
Remington  (G),  George  E.  Hagar  (D),  Henry  E.  Crane  (F), 
Edwin  E.  Moore  (G),  and  James  Knox  (I).  Lieutenants 


140  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Charles  Wheeler  and  David  W.  Wells  being  entitled  to  a  dis 
charge,  from  wounds  honorably  received  in  the  service, 
applied  and  received  their  discharge  through  the  medical 
department. 

At  the  evening  dress  parade,  Colonel  Eustis  informed  the 
officers  that  he  had  received  the  resignations  sent  in,  but  he 
had  not  forwarded  them,  and  would  hold  them  over  until  the 
next  morning,  trusting  that  before  that  time  they  would  be 
withdrawn  by  the  writers.  He  also  cautioned  the  officers  that 
they  were  violating  the  seventh  article  of  war,  and  in  case  of 
their  persisting  in  the  matter,  they  must  suffer  the  conse 
quences. 

On  Sunday,  Sept.  28th,  the  officers  whose  resignations  were 
sent  in  were  all  ordered  under  arrest,  and  their  swords  gath 
ered  up  by  the  Adjutant,  Keith,  and  deposited  at  headquarters, 
after  which  his  own  was  added  to  the  pile,  and  the  first  act 
in  the  drama  of  petty  spite  and  tyranny  inaugurated  at 
brigade  headquarters  was  consummated.  At  the  request  of 
the  Brigade  Commander,  General  Devens,  through  whose 
influence  Major  Parker  was  appointed  to  the  Tenth,  a  court- 
martial  was  ordered,  of  which  he  was  appointed  the  presiding 
officer,  to  try  the  officers  who  had  tendered  their  resignations, 
on  charges  of  which  he  (General  Devens)  had  previously 
certified  in  writing,  over  his  own  signature,  that  he  had  every 
reason  to  believe  they  were  guilty. 

General  Devens  made  the  following  endorsement  on  the 
back  of  Captain  Newell's  resignation: 

The  General  commanding  the  brigade  regrets  deeply  that  he  is 
obliged  to  bring  to  the  notice  of  the  General  commanding  the  division, 
that  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt  that  these  resignations,  bearing  the 
same  date,  and  couched  in  substantially  the  same  language,  are  the 
result  of  a  combination  against  Major  Parker,  of  the  Tenth  Massachu 
setts  Volunteers,  a  brave  and  valuable  officer  appointed  by  the  lawful 
authority,  and  who,  so  far  as  known,  has  proved  himself  every  way 
worthy  of  the  appointment.  Such  a  combination  cannot  be  considered 
otherwise  than  a  sedition,  intended  to  destroy  the  efficiency  of  the 
Regiment,  unless  the  appointment  of  major  can  be  dictated  by  these 
officers,  to  the  Executive  of  Massachusetts,  in  whom  it  has  been 
lodged  by  the  laws  of  the  United  States.  It  is  well  known  to  these 
officers,  who  speak  of  Major  Parker  as  a  "civilian,"  as  he  is  termed  in 
some  of  these  papers,  and  an  "outsider,"  that  Major  Parker  has 
been  longer  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  than  any  of  them ;  that 
he  entered  it  with  the  Sixth  Regiment,  the  first  that  left  the  State  of 
Massachusetts;  that  he  has  been  continuously  in  that  service,  until  a 
very  short  time  before  his  appointment  of  Major,  and  that 
then,  as  Assistant  Quartermaster  of  the  United  States,  he  rendered 
most  efficient  service  in  the  field  in  several  of  the  battles  of 
the  peninsula. 


OCT.  1,  '62  DOWNSVILLE  141 

Not  one  of  these  officers,  tendering  their  resignation,  was  by  any 
rule  of  seniority  entitled  to  the  position  of  major,  and  all  have  been 
warned  of  the  aspect  in  which  such  a  combination  must  be  regarded. 
Under  these  circumstances,  it  seems  impossible  to  pass  over  the 
matter  by  a  simple  disapproval  of  the  resignations  enclosed,  and  the 
General  commanding  the  brigade  respectfully  recommends  that  the 
officers,  or  at  least  the  senior  officers,  whose  resignations  are  forwarded, 
may  be  dismissed  the  service,  or  may  be  brought  before  a  court-martial, 
as  may  be  deemed  most  suitable. 

Signed, 

CHARLES  DEVENS,  JR., 
Brigadier  General  Commanding  Brigade 

Is  it  not  a  little  singular  that  so  considerable  a  defection  on 
the  part  of  the  officers  made  so  little  impression  on  the  enlisted 
men,  for  not  one  of  them,  whose  letters  and  diaries  are  in 
existence,  made  any  mention  of  the  matter,  yet  the  remarks 
of  the  Colonel  at  parade  must  have  been  heard  by  all. 

DOWNSVILLE 

A  reorganization  of  the  several  army  corps  having  been 
made,  the  first  of  October  found  the  Tenth  Regiment  a  por 
tion  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  the  brigade  having  been  transferred, 
and  all  were  under  the  command  of  Major  General  Wm.  B. 
Franklin,  and  a  sharer  of  the  fortunes  of  the  Sixth  the  Regi 
ment  continued  until  the  end  of  its  service.  The  real  mission 
of  the  soldier,  viz,  drill,  began  again  and  the  men  found  their 
new  Colonel,  with  his  long  West  Point  experience,  an  excellent 
drill  master.  Farmers  in  the  vicinity  were  realizing  the  advan 
tage  of  a  home  market  and  many  of  them  visited  the  camp 
regularly  with  products  of  their  homes  and  farms  for  sale.  In 
this  way,  though  at  some  extra  cost,  the  soldier  was  able  to 
substitute  soft  bread  for  hard-tack  and  butter  once  more  be 
came  a  possibility,  though  the  increased  demand  for  that 
luxury  of  civilization  soon  sent  the  price  from  eighteen  cents, 
what  it  cost  when  the  camp  was  pitched,  to  half  a  dollar  per 
pound,  and  a  ten  cent  loaf  of  bread  soon  cost  two  and  a  half 
times  that.  Fortunately  no  considerations  of  political  or 
domestic  economy  prevented  the  boys  eating  all  their  money 
would  permit.  New  sweet  cider,  too,  had  a  most  decided  home 
flavor  and  was  freely  indulged  in  to  the  manifest  improvement 


142  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

of  many  who  had  suffered  from  ailments  incident  to  the  time 
and  locality. 

That  same  first  day  of  October  is  memorable  in  that  then 
President  Lincoln  made  his  second  visit  to  General  McClellan 
in  the  field.  He  was  at  Harrison's  Landing,  and  now  came 
again  to  see  his  soldiers  after  their  terrible  test  at  Antietam. 
It  was  during  this  visit  that  the  famous  photograph  was  taken 
by  Brady,  wherein  he  is  shown  surrounded  by  a  large  number 
of  officers  who  were  slowly  attaining  national  fame.  While 
he  was  with  the  General,  the  President  went  over  the  fields  of 
Antietam  and  South  Mountain  and  beheld  many  parades  of 
the  troops,  in  one  of  which  the  Tenth  participated,  drawing 
from  a  youthful  scribe  the  entry,  "We  were  reviewed  by 
President  Lincoln,  General  McClellan  and  General  Franklin." 
On  the  5th  came  the  37th  Massachusetts,  a  new  regiment 
under  the  command  of  the  late  Adjutant  of  the  Tenth,  Oliver 
Edwards,  and  joining  the  brigade,  the  regiment  was  a  near 
neighbor  and  friend  as  long  as  it  remained  in  the  service,  the 
recruits  and  re-enlisted  men  of  the  older  organization  being 
transferred  to  the  37th  when  their  own  body  was  mustered  out. 
The  clean  and  bright  uniforms  of  the  new  men  were  in  glitter 
ing  contrast  with  the  soiled  and  torn  garments  worn  by  the 
older  soldiers. 

Under  this  same  date,  the  5th,  mention  is  made  of  the  prog 
ress  of  the  court-martial  before  which  were  ordered  the  officers 
who  had  tendered  their  resignations.  It  was  held  in  a  small 
building,  up  to  this  time  used  for  both  school  and  chapel 
purposes,  and  to  these  uses  was  now  added  that  of  court  room. 
It  was  situated  near  the  camp  and  was  presided  over  by 
General  Devens  and  it  would  be  hard  to  convince  the  men 
chiefly  concerned  that  it  was  not  organized  to  convict.  To 
the  enlisted  men  the  days  were  passing  quietly  and  pleasantly, 
varied  by  light  guard  duty,  drills  and  inspections.  With  the 
10th,  came  marching  orders  requiring  two  days  rations  and 
preparation  to  start  at  once  without  knapsacks.  The  latter 
order  was  soon  countermanded,  the  scare  having  arisen  from 
a  brush  between  certain  lines  of  pickets  and  possibly  Stuart's 


OCT.  14,  '62  DOWNSVILLE  143 

Chambersburg  raid  then  on.  The  14th  made  a  deep  impres 
sion  on  nearly  everyone  in  the  Regiment  for  then  came  four 
great  loads  of  express  matter  from  home  and  he  was  a  very 
unlucky  fellow  who  was  not  remembered  in  some  way.  Said 
one  boy,  "I  had  a  box  from  mother,  the  stuff  being  the  most 
of  it  in  good  order — a  jar  of  jelly  was  broken  and  a  cake  was 
somewhat  mouldy.  The  rest  was  all  right.  The  Spencer 
folks  sent  a  box  for  the  hospital,  but  there  was  a  great  deal 
more  than  was  wanted  there,  so  it  was  divided  by  lots  among 
the  Spencer  boys.  I  drew  a  pair  of  socks,  two  handkerchiefs, 
two  towels,  a  bottle  of  cider  wine  and  a  jar  of  currant  jelly." 
If  all  the  boys  from  that  hilltop  town  fared  as  well,  we  must 
conclude  that  the  box  was  liberal  in  both  size  and  contents. 

The  next  day  brought  marching  orders  but  they  were 
countermanded.  Again,  the  18th,  came  directions  to  be  ready 
to  start  in  light  marching  order  with  three  days'  rations  and 
at  a  minute's  notice.  Being  used  to  similar  commands,  the 
Regiment  was  not  particularly  startled;  it  was,  however, 
ready  for  the  word  when  it  actually  came  and  in  a  twinkling 
the  men  were  in  line  and  prepared  for  the  march  which  began 
just  before  dark.  After  passing  through  Downsville,  Wil- 
liamsport  and  Clear  Springs,  Maryland,  at  about  1.30  a.  m. 
of  the  19th,  we  halted  in  a  corn  field  just  beyond  the  latter 
place.  The  corn,  cut  and  shocked,  was  soon  distributed 
among  the  tired  soldiers,  affording  them  comfortable  beds  till 
the  coming  of  the  morn.  The  farmer  who  owned  the  field 
rode  through  the  camp  in  the  morning,  and  viewed  the  situa 
tion  with  more  good  nature  than  might  be  expected  under 
the  circumstances.  His  most  memorable  comment  was  that 
he  wished  the  boys  would  husk  the  corn  since  they  had  pulled 
it  down. 

At  seven  o'clock  we  were  off  and  marched  to  Hancock 
where  there  was  a  ford  of  the  Potomac,  on  the  way  passing 
through  Fair  View,  Indian  Springs  and  Pond  Point.  The 
country  being  mountainous,  the  views  from  the  heights,  em 
bracing  the  river  and  a  wide  extent  of  territory,  were  grand 
and  beautiful.  Hagerstown,  so  often  named  in  the  stories 


144  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

of  the  war,  was  twenty  miles  away  and  signaling  was  in  con 
stant  evidence,  the  station  near  us  being  in  charge  of  Lieut. 
William  F.  Barrett  of  Springfield,  formerly  of  the  27th  Massa 
chusetts.  Beyond  the  river  appeared  the  camps  of  the 
enemy,  while  near  us  were  the  lines  of  our  own  forces  on  the 
march.  Reaching  Hancock  a  little  before  sunset,  we  halted 
in  a  field  owned  by  Samuel  Bowles,  not,  it  is  safe  to  say,  the 
famous  newspaper  man  of  Springfield.  The  village  was  not 
a  large  one,  having  seven  or  eight  hundred  inhabitants  and 
enjoyed  the  credit  of  being  the  place  where  Stuart  crossed 
the  river  on  his  famous  raid  into  Pennsylvania  a  week  before, 
though,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  the  crossing  was  at  Cherry  Run 
Ford,  eleven  miles  further  down  the  stream.* 

Just  after  midnight  of  the  20th,  we  were  ordered  to  Cherry 
Run  which  was  reached  about  sunrise  on  the  21st.  Here  we 
resumed  the  knapsacks  and  baggage  left  at  Downsville  when 
we  started  off  "in  light  order"  and  also  picked  up  the  sick 
and  others  who  had  failed  to  keep  up.  The  impression  was 
that  the  Corps  had  been  sent  on  this  march  to  prevent  a  second 
Rebel  invasion  of  Pennsylvania,  in  a  measure  suggested  by 
Stuart's  raid.  The  advancing  season  was  indicated  by  the 
cold  nights  and  the  camping  outfit  was  hardly  equal  to  the 
demand.  To  ford  the  waters  of  the  Potomac,  even  though  they 
were  only  knee  deep  was  not  a  pleasant  task  for  those  men 
who,  on  the  22d,  had  to  go  on  picket.  An  eighth  of  a  mile  wide 
they  said  the  river  was,  and  the  foot  bath  was  not  a  source  of 
comfort.  From  the  direction  of  Hedges ville,  the  cavalry 
brought  in  a  party  of  Rebel  prisoners,  some  twenty  or  more 
in  number. 

On  the  23d  we  were  called  out  at  3.00  a.  m.,  our  pickets  were 
drawn  in  and  we  were  ordered  to  march  at  daybreak.  Obey 
ing  and  marching  out  to  the  turnpike,  we  halted  there  all  day, 
returning  to  the  camp  at  night.  Jarvis  Taylor  of  Company  A 
died  in  an  ambulance  on  the  road  and  was  buried  by  the 
roadside.  Were  it  not  for  the  ever  increasing  cold  the  few 


*Stuart  himself  says,  "McCoy's  Ferry,"  in  his  account  of  the  Cham- 
bersbur<r  Raid.     This  was  his  second  ride  around  the  Union  Army. 


OCT.  29,  '62  DOWNSVILLE  145 

days'  stop  at  Cherry  Run  had  been  very  enjoyable;  as  it  was, 
we  managed  to  live  through  them,  though  shelter  tents  were 
hardly  the  thing  for  such  nights  as  were  common,  especially 
when  joined  with  heavy  rains.  Even  the  blankets  received 
from  Downsville  did  not  keep  us  so  warm  and  dry  but  that 
the  tents  were  abandoned  and,  by  the  side  of  camp  fires,  we 
alternately  froze  and  roasted  as  we  turned  before  the  blaze. 
Off  again  on  the  27th,  starting  at  8.00  a.  m.,  we  marched 
through  Clear  Springs  to  Williamsport  where  we  halted  for 
two  days.  Here  we  were  camped  in  a  beautiful  grove  of  tall 
oaks,  a  large  number  of  which  were  cut  down  in  the  process 
of  camp  making,  much  to  the  disgust  of  the  owner  who 
declared  that  the  Government  would  have  to  pay  him  a 
thousand  dollars  for  every  tree  destroyed. 

Back  we  went  on  the  29th,  to  our  old  camp  at  Downsville 
which  was  found  as  we  left  it,  and  here  we  awaited  further 
orders.  Just  before  starting,  Major  Parker's  favorite  horse. 
"Tommy,"  becoming  restive  under  the  load  of  camp  equip 
ment  which  had  been  placed  upon  and  around  the  saddle, 
started  off  on  a  run,  nor  did  he  stop  until  he  had  rid  himself 
of  the  last  kettle  and  stewpan.  The  merriment  of  the  men  in 
no  way  lessened  the  disgust  of  the  officer,  who  picked  up  his 
scattered  utensils  as  best  he  could,  and  found  some  other  way 
of  transporting  them.  During  the  halt  here  of  one  day, 
muster  rolls  were  prepared,  the  court-martial  for  the  resigned 
officers  progressed  and  some  Quartermaster's  stores  were  dis 
tributed,  though  the  men  were  still  very  much  in  need  of 
shoes  and  clothing.  Some  would  have  liked  to  know  what 
the  ten  days'  trip  had  amounted  to,  above  an  object  lesson 
of  Washington  county  geography,  with  actual  observation 
of  the  river  fords  at  Williamsport,  Cherry  Run  and  Hancock 
and  the  excellent  breaking  in  that  the  new  37th  Massachusetts 
had.  The  boys  of  the  latter  organization  thought  we  were 
pacing  them  as  a  trial  of  their  speed,  but  they  found  out  that 
it  was  the  regular  step  of  the  brigade  and  that  they  were  com 
ing  on  finely.  Nothing  could  be  more  cordial  than  the  rela 
tions  between  the  two  regiments,  and  well  they  might  be, 


146  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

since  we  were  from  the  same  section  of  the  state  and  did  not 
Colonel  Edwards  get  his  first  lessons  among  the  men  of  the 
Tenth? 

On  that  day,  viz,  Oct.  30th,  there  appeared  in  the  Spring 
field  Republican  an  extended  article  signed  "G.  W.,"  evidently 
George  Walker  of  Springfield,  a  personal  and  political  friend 
of  Major  Parker,  in  which  he  set  forth  at  great  length  the 
merits  of  the  latter,  obviously  written  to  offset  the  influence 
of  a  late  article  in  the  Republican  in  a  way  exculpating  the 
officers  who  had  resigned,  and  referring  to  the  Major  as  an 
appointee  from  civil  life.  Naturally,  when  the  paper  reached 
the  Regiment  it  excited  no  little  comment  and  criticism. 
The  road  was  again  taken  on  the  31st,  leaving  Downsville 
in  the  morning,  and  after  marching  twelve  miles  we  arrived  at 
Rhorersville,  where  we  camped  for  the  night,  and  where  we 
also  mustered  for  pay. 

November  began  for  us  at  three  in  the  morning,  when  we 
were  off,  passing  the  battle  field  of  South  Mountain,  and 
halting  in  Berlin  at  noon.  Said  place  is  about  six  miles  below 
Harper's  Ferry  on  the  Maryland  side  of  the  Potomac.  The 
good  bridge  which  once  spanned  the  river  here,  the  Rebels 
destroyed  at  the  beginning  of  the  war.  We  were  camped  on 
a  steep  hillside,  a  good  position  when  reached,  and  some  of 
the  most  ragged  of  the  men  were  comforted  by  the  distribu 
tion  of  clothing.  The  second  day,  we  were  ordered  to  pack  up, 
but  the  long  baggage  trains  having  to  cross  on  a  very  light 
pontoon  bridge,  night  found  us  still  in  the  same  camp.  For  a 
delightful  change  the  day  was  quite  warm.  The  third  day 
noted  the  return  of  the  Regiment  to  Virginia  and  the  mud 
we  were  soon  floundering  in  seemed  altogether  natural. 
Burnside  had  just  preceded  us  on  the  pontoon  bridge  which 
bore  us  over  to  "Ole  Virginny  "  shore.  After  marching  about 
ten  miles  in  a  southeasterly  course  we  found  a  comfortable 
camp  in  the  woods. 

There  was  music  in  the  air  on  the  4th,  since  during  nearly 
all  that  day  Pleasanton  and  Stuart  were  waging  a  running 
fight,  one  of  those  encounters  in  which  there  was  a  great  deal 


Nov.  6,  '62  WHITE  PLAINS  147 

of  noise  and  very  little  bloodshed;  indeed,  in  all  of  the  day's 
dissonance  there  was  just  one  man  killed  and  four  wounded. 
The  5th,  we  left  Union  and  after  marching  six  or  seven  miles 
encamped  for  the  night,  and  here  happened  one  of  those  inci 
dents  of  army  life  where  inherent  human  nature  is  shown  at 
its  best  or  worst ;  let  Sargent  of  Company  K  tell  the  story : 

Well,  we  got  rid  of  going  on  picket  and  it  happened  this 
way.  There  was  a  long  fence  near  where  we  stopped  for  the 
night  and  soldiers  always  like  to  find  a  good  dry  fence,  the 
rails  make  such  a  beautiful  fire  to  cook  coffee  by.  Well,  the 
Second  Rhode  Island  and  the  37th  Massachusetts  got  into 
trouble  over  the  fence  and  from  words  they  came  to  blows 
and  had  quite  a  little  time  for  a  while.  Our  Regiment  had 
just  got  started  for  picket  when  the  General  sent  for  us  to 
come  back  and  sent  the  Second  Rhode  Island  instead  to 
pay  for  fighting. 

Marching  was  resumed  early  on  the  6th,  and  leaving  the 
principal  roads  we  traveled  by  wood  roads  and  cart  paths 
where  only  thin  lines  were  possible,  and  after  sixteen  or  seven 
teen  miles  we  reached  White  Plains.  During  one  of  the  halts 
on  the  march  was  seen  one  of  the  horse  play  incidents,  very 
funny  to  the  boys  but  vexatious  enough  to  the  victims.  We 
were  near  a  house  whose  occupants  were  evidently  of  the 
''secesh"  order  and  that  of  an  exceedingly  virulent  type. 
They  had  no  disposition  to  sell  any  of  their  farm  products  but 
if  they  did,  it  must  be  for  gold,  silver  or  Confederate  script. 
Whatever  men  folks  the  precincts  possessed  were  conspicu 
ously  silent,  but  not  so  the  women,  who  were  prompt  and 
emphatic  in  their  opinions  and  expressions.  It  was  a  very 
natural  thing  that  hungry  soldiers  and  possible  poultry  soon 
neared  each  other,  to  the  manifest  delight  of  the  soldiery  and 
the  equally  evident  disgust  of  the  women,  who  shouted,  cried, 
and  even  swore  at  the  marauding  men  in  blue.  The  provost 
marshal  was  ordered  up,  but  somehow  his  protection  was  not 
very  effectual  and  it  is  even  reported  that  chicken  graced  the 
table  of  said  officer  that  very  night.  The  termagant  wife  of 
the  household  clinched  some  of  her  remarks  with  the  throwing 
of  stones  and  one  man  of  the  Tenth  had  his  jaw  almost  broken 


148  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

by  the  virago,  but  the  blood  streaming  from  his  wound 
excited  only  the  derision  of  his  comrades,  who  had  their 
opinion  of  any  man  who  could  thus  be  wounded  at  the  hands 
of  a  paleface  squaw. 

Camp  was  pitched  at  about  3.00  p.  m.  and  just  before  dark, 
in  searching  for  water,  these  inquisitive  Yankees  found  a  large 
flock  of  sheep  in  a  cleared  field,  evidently  placed  there  with  the 
hope  that  they  might  escape  the  eyes  of  marauding  soldiers. 
It  was  not  to  be,  for  the  slaughter  began  at  once.  The  smell  of 
of  blood  soon  brought  other  men  to  the  scene  and  in  a  very  brief 
time  there  was  nothing  of  that  flock  left  except  their  pelts. 
Though  some  of  the  men  found  a  whiskey  distillery  near  and 
others  found  certain  hogs  which  were  exceedingly  tasty,  and 
though  the  camp  may  have  had  some  other  designation,  the 
prevalence  of  sheep  while  here  forever  fixed  it  in  the  memories  of 
the  boys  themselves  as  "Camp  Mutton."  Perhaps  no  such  general 
carnival  ever  was  participated  in  by  officers  as  well  as  men. 
Though  the  irate  owners  hastened  to  headquarters  to  com 
plain  and  though  orders  emanated  thence  to  cease  the  slaugh 
ter,  it  was  too  late,  for  the  work  had  been  done.  It  is  said  that 
some  companies  of  the  Tenth  had  as  many  as  ten  sheep  on 
the  coals  at  one  time;  the  odor  thereof  filled  the  air  and  a 
man  coming  over  from  the  camp  of  the  37th,  eating  from  a 
full  leg  of  lamb,  said  that  Colonel  Edwards  had  ordered  all 
of  his  men  to  grease  their  guns  with  mutton  tallow.  For  the 
first  time  in  three  months  a  train  of  cars  was  run  up  from 
Alexandria. 

The  Regiment  remained  at  White  Plains  until  the  9th,  in 
the  interval  witnessing  a  heavy  fall  of  snow  and  also  experi 
encing  some  pangs  of  hunger,  since  the  supply  of  mutton  was 
exhausted  and  hard-tack  had  given  out.  The  Sixth  Corps 
baggage  train  had  been  mixed  up  with  that  of  the  Fifth  and 
confusion  resulted.  While  some  of  the  odds  and  ends,  like 
salt-pork  and  coffee  were  distributed,  the  men  longed  for  the 
real  staff  of  life  and  they  made  the  Quartermaster's  life  miser 
able  for  a  few  days  as  they  shouted  "Hard-tack,"  whenever 
he  appeared  in  sight.  On  the  9th,  the  Regiment  moved  to 


Nov.  7,  '62  WHITE  PLAINS  149 

New 'Baltimore,  five  miles  from  Warrenton,  and  encamped. 
Two  crackers  per  man  were  issued  just  before  starting  and 
after  reaching  camp  a  few  more  were  given  out,  but  there  was 
no  sugar  for  coffee  and  no  prospect  of  immediate  improve 
ment.  At  White  Plains  some  evilly  disposed  person  stole 
Captain  Bigelow's  trunk,  containing  his  silver-mounted 
revolver  and  other  articles  of  value,  and  though  the  trunk  was 
found  it  had  been  thoroughly  rifled.  Notice  reached  us  that 
Captain  Lombard  had  resigned  Nov.  2d,  on  account  of  ill 
health. 

While  our  Regiment  had  been  marching  and  countermarch 
ing  over  Virginia's  "sacred  soil,"  it  was  one  of  the  pawns  in  the 
new  movement,  projected  by  McClellan  to  overcome  the  enemy, 
viz,  to  march  southward  and  westward  and,  by  interposing  his 
army  between  the  severed  divisions  of  the  Confederates,  to  fight 
the  latter  in  detail.  However,  his  well-laid  plans  were  doomed, 
for  on  the  5th  President  Lincoln  had  relieved  him  from  the 
command  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  and  named  Burnside 
as  his  successor.  It  was  in  the  midst  of  the  severe  snowstorm 
of  the  7th  that  Gen.  C.  P.  Buckingham,  Secretary  Stanton's 
Adjutant,  arrived  post-haste  from  Washington  and  delivered 
to  McClellan  the  paper  which  ended  his  military  career.  By 
a  strange  freak  of  fortune,  Burnside  was  present  when  the 
despatch  came,  and  it  was  at  once  passed  over  to  him,  he  being 
as  much  surprised  as  McClellan  himself.  Of  this  event 
Swinton  in  his  story  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  says : 

The  moment  chosen  was  an  inopportune  and  an  ungracious 
one;  for  never  had  McClellan  acted  with  such  vigor  and 
rapidity — never  had  he  shown  so  much  confidence  in  himself 
or  the  army  with  him.  And  it  is  a  notable  fact  that  not  only 
was  the  whole  body  of  the  army — rank  and  file  as  well  as 
officers — enthusiastic  in  their  affection  for  his  person,  but  that 
the  very  General  appointed  as  his  successor  was  the  strongest 
opponent  of  his  removal. 

Nov.  7th,  Colonel  Eustis  stated  that  there  were  only  five 
line  officers  on  duty  and  he  urged  the  necessity  of  promotion. 
Of  course  the  officers  who  had  proffered  their  resignations 
were  present  but  were  not  eligible  for  service  of  any  kind.  It 


150  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

was  on  the  9th  that  the  former  and  present  commanders  rode 
through  the  camp.  The  reception  accorded  the  departing 
officer  was  warm  in  the  extreme,  for  personally  he  was  the 
most  lovable  of  men,  and  the  soldiers  knew  nothing  of  the 
politics  of  the  war.  It  was  here  also  that  three  or  four  men 
from  each  company  were  transferred  to  the  regular  artillery 
service.  The  most  of  those  who  went  from  the  Tenth  were 
attached  to  Butler's  Second  U.S.  Artillery.  While  at  Warren- 
ton,  General  Couch,  so  long  in  command  of  the  Third  Division, 
succeeded  Gen.  E.  V.  Sumner  as  commander  of  the  Second 
Corps  and  Gen.  John  Newton  was  Couch's  successor.  There 
being  direct  communication  with  Alexandria  by  rail,  we  were 
getting  supplies  regularly.  The  people  were  thoroughly  Rebel 
in  their  sympathies  and  one  little  girl  proclaimed  her  dislike 
of  the  Yankees  because,  as  she  said,  "They  brought  the  cold 
weather."  Our  camp  was  on  a  very  steep  hillside  whence 
the  view  was  grand,  particularly  in  the  night,  when  the  sight 
of  the  valley  filled  with  camp  fires  suggested  thoughts  which 
were  Mrs.  Julia  Ward  Howe's  when  she  wrote: 
"I  have  seen  Him  in  the  watch  fires  of  a  hundred  circling  camps." 
On  the  14th  came  a  much  needed  supply  of  overcoats  and 
blankets,  thus  lessening  somewhat  the  rigors  of  winter.  Not 
always  did  the  mail  bring  pleasure  to  the  recipient,  for  it  was 
here,  Nov.  9th,  that  Myron  Walker,  the  "drummer-boy," 
received  the  sad  news  of  the  sudden  death  of  his  father.  With 
his  boyish  heart  bowed  down,  the  youngest  member  of  the 
Regiment  was  the  object  of  unlimited  sympathy  from  the 
older  comrades  who  did  all  that  men  could  do  for  their  friend 
in  grief.  For  a  week  the  Regiment  continued  at  New  Balti 
more.  On  the  14th  the  long  drawn  out  t-rial  of  the  officers  who 
had  resigned,  or  tried  to,  on  the  27th  of  September,  came  to 
an  end.  The  chief  contest  was  made  over  the  case  of  Captain 
Newell,  who  was  tried  first.  It  was  agreed  that  the  decision 
in  one  case  should  be  the  same  for  all,  but  the  form  of  trial 
was  had  for  each  one.  When  the  case  of  Captain  Pierce,  No.  3 
in  the  list,  was  on,  it  was  discovered  that  General  Devens's 
endorsement  on  Captain  Newell's  resignation  had  prejudged 


Nov.  18,  '62  STAFFORD  COURT  HOUSE  151 

the  case,  and  on  being  challenged,  the  General  promptly 
resigned,  his  place  being  taken  by  Col.  Frank  Wheaton  of  the 
Second  Rhode  Island.  The  papers  in  the  case  were  sent  up 
for  approval,  and  another  wait  ensued. 

Once  more  the  army  was  on  the  move,  leaving  New  Balti 
more  on  the  16th  at  9.30  a.  m.,  marching  towards  Catlett's 
Station  on  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  railroad,  stopping 
finally  about  three  miles  beyond  the  station,  having  put 
fifteen  miles  between  us  and  our  starting  place.  The  next 
day  we  added  fifteen  miles  more  to  the  story  of  the  day  before, 
being  on  the  road  to  Fredericksburg,  and  halted  for  the  night 
in  a  big  piece  of  pine  woods.  The  18th  saw  us  out  and  going 
at  6.30  a.  m.  with  Stafford  Court  House  as  our  goal,  but  we 
stopped  three  miles  short  of  it,  though  we  paced  off  ten  good 
miles  of  marching.  Rations,  too,  were  short,  as  was  too 
often  the  case  when  on  the  march,  usually  starting  with  three 
days'  needs  which  the  men  were  wont  to  consume  in  two,  thus 
going  hungry  on  the  third  day.  The  camping  place,  at  first 
deemed  exceedingly  fine,  under  the  effect  of  continued  rain 
soon  became  like  so  many  other  camps,  just  a  vast  expanse 
of  mud. 

A  careful  note  taker  said  the  camp  was  twelve  miles  from 
Fredericksburg,  five  from  Aquia  Creek  and  about  one  from 
the  Potomac.  Wagons  were  dispatched  to  the  creek  for 
supplies  which  came  up  in  abundance  on  the  21st,  but  tobacco 
was  now  lacking  from  the  seeming  necessities  of  the  men. 
Some,  in  their  extremity,  smoked  moss  taken  from  the  trees, 
others  tried  coffee,  the  odor  of  which  was  proclaimed  really 
agreeable.  The  sutler  had  not  been  careful  enough  in  follow 
ing  up  the  Regiment,  hence  the. failure  of  the  soldiers  in  getting 
their  accustomed  supply  of  the  weed.  When  h'e  did  arrive, 
the  boys  raided  him,  to  teach  him  a  lesson  for  not  coming 
sooner.  These  northern  boys  were  being  inducted  into  the 
peculiarities  of  the  persimmon,  a  fruit  the  most  excellent  of 
its  kind  after  a  frost,  but  until  that  time,  sure  to  pucker  the 
lips  beyond  all  compare.  In  their  recent  hungry  state,  many 
a  man  was  thankful  for  even  persimmons.  To  be  on  picket 


152  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

was  the  lot  of  the  entire  Regiment  on  the  22d,  and  there  was 
little  of  variety,  though  all  were  wondering  what  they  would 
have  to  eat  at  Thanksgiving,  which  was  then  in  sight. 

For  the  25th,  there  is  a  record  of  a  battalion  drill  under 
Major  Parker  in  the  afternoon.  For  some  reason  matters 
became  so  involved  that  he  was  obliged  to  dismiss  the  exercise 
with  the  command,  to  the  several  company  officers,  to  take 
charge  of  their  respective  bodies  of  men.  All  this,  in  sight 
of  visitors  from  all  over  the  brigade,  was  quite  disheartening 
to  many,  but  the  men  went  off  the  field  in  so  hilarious  a  mood 
that  Colonel  Eustis  was  attracted  by  the  sound  and,  ascer 
taining  the  cause,  ordered  the  companies  out  again  and  pro 
ceeded  to  put  them  through  a  course  of  drill  in  which  there 
were  no  errors  whatever.  To  the  list  of  officers  under  arrest 
was  added  Lieut.  Wallace  A;  Putnam  of  Company  E,  whose 
offense  was  in  having  refused  to  obey  the  order  of  the  Colonel 
in  regard  to  certain  barefooted  men.  It  appears  that  Lieuten 
ant  Putnam,  then  in  command  of  the  Company,  on  account 
of  the  lack  of  shoes  had  excused  some  of  his  men  from  drill; 
this  coming  to  the  ears  of  the  Colonel,  he  ordered  the  Lieuten 
ant  to  take  the  men  and  with  them  bring  wood  from  a  pile 
left  by  the  Rebels,  until  he  directed  him  to  cease.  Considering 
the  command  as  an  unreasonable  one,  under  the  circumstances, 
the  officer  flatly  refused  to  obey  and  was  at  once  placed  under 
arrest. 

Springfield  people  had  not  forgotten  their  absent  sons,  for 
on  the  27th  came  Mr.  Wm.  Birnie  from  that  city  with  boxes 
filled  with  underclothing,  etc.,  from  the  friends  at  home. 
The  28th  was  Thanksgiving  and  when  did  these  New  Eng- 
landers  ever  go  without  a  good  dinner  on  such  a  day  before? 
Formed  in  line,  they  heard  the  reading  of  Governor  Andrew's 
proclamation,  with  some  remarks  and  a  prayer  by  Chaplain 
Bingham  but  they  were  not  very  filling.  It  was  about  this 
time  that  some  of  the  men  in  McCarthy's  Battery  stirred 
things  up  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening,  by  firing  some  of  their 
guns,  being  prompted  thereto  by  some  whiskey  which  they  stole 
from  a  passing  sutler.  As  no  one  would  confess  the  deed,  all 
the  men  were  arrested. 


DEC.  5,  '62  BELLE  PLAIN  153 

The  last  day  of  the  month  was  signalized  with  pay  for  four 
months,  the  paymaster  having  arrived  the  night  before, 
accompanied  with  the  usual  array  of  sutlers,  who  liked  to  keep 
pretty  near  the  source  of  their  wealth.  The  coming  of  the 
paymaster  was  appreciated  by  the  folks  at  home  as  well,  for 
many  of  these  men  sent  by  far  the  greater  portion  of  their 
scant  wages  to  those  wrho  were  waiting  for  them  a  long  way  to 
the  northward.  Asst.  Surgeon  Jewett  left  on  that  day  to 
become  the  Surgeon  of  the  51st  Massachusetts.  The  officer 
had  endeared  himself  to  many  in  the  Regiment  and  all  wished 
him  abundant  success  in  his  new  field.  Though  marching 
orders  were  received  Dec.  3d,  it  was  not  before  early  morn 
of  the  4th  that  we  were  off.  The  bugle  call  came  before  day 
light  and  the  camp  had  been  a  scene  of  activity  for  some  time 
before  the  appearance  of  the  sun  proclaimed  the  real  advent 
of  day.  The  roads  were  indescribably  bad  and  baggage  trains 
were  ever  in  the  way,  so  that  at  noon  we  wrere  scarcely  two 
miles  from  our  starting  point  but,  as  a  definite  distance  must 
be  accomplished,  we  pushed  ahead  of  the  wagons  and  six  or 
eight  miles  were  marched  before  we  bivouacked  in  an  open 
field. 

On  the  5th,  we  started  ere  the  dawn  of  day  and,  after  a 
march  of  about  six  miles,  encamped  near  Belle  Plain,  an 
extended  stretch  of  level  country  occupying  considerable 
territory  between  the  mouth  of  Potomac  Creek  and  Freder- 
icksburg.  However,  hardly  had  the  shelter  tents  been  pitched, 
for  rain  was  impending  and  had  begun  before  they  were  really 
up,  when  there  came  the  order  to  pack  up  and  fall  in  immedi 
ately.  The  tents,  heavy  with  moisture,  wrere  taken  down  and 
again  piled  on  our  backs  for  the  onward  walk  of  about  one 
mile  when  camp  was  once  more  essayed.  By  this  time  the 
rain  had  turned  into  snow  and  discomfort  came  near  reaching 
its  climax.  The  bad  roads  prevented  the  coming  of  the  wagons, 
so  the  officers  were  minus  their  tents  and  baggage  until  late 
at  night,  and  when  they  did  arrive  the  ground  was  too  wet 
for  a  bed,  consequently  the  most  of  the  men  with  shoulder 
straps  sat  by  their  fires  until  morning.  Having  been  told  that 


154  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

we  should  probably  remain  there  a  week,  measures  were  at 
once  taken  to  erect  quarters  which,  in  a  degree,  protected  us 
from  the  weather  which  had  become  extremely  cold.  The 
snow  that  fell  the  previous  day  had  not  melted  on  the  6th, 
though  the  sun  was  shining  brightly.  The  water  in  our 
canteens  froze  solid  during  the  night  and  we  were  in  for  a 
taste  of  soldier's  life  hitherto  unknown.  The  wood  used  was 
green  pine,  a  very  poor  kind  of  fuel,  and  the  smoke,  instead 
of  rising,  clung  to  the  earth,  giving  rise  to  the  name  familiar 
in  regimental  annals  as  "Smoky  Hill."  Hut  building  and  fire 
making  soon  made  the  timber  in  our  vicinity  disappear. 

FREDERICKSBURG 

This  place,  made  famous  by  the  events  of  the  ensuing 
months,  on  the  west  or  south  bank  of  the  Rappahannock,  is 
fifty  miles  north  of  Richmond  and  one  hundred  and  ten  miles 
from  Chesapeake  Bay.  It  had  then  a  population  of  some 
thing  more  than  3000  people.  It  bears  in  its  name  a  reminder 
of  Frederick,  Prince  of  Wales,  oldest  son  of  George  II  and, 
thereby,  father  of  George  III  of  America's  Revolutionary 
days.  In  those  times  it  was  the  home  of  Washington's  mother 
and  hither  he  came  to  bid  her  "Good-bye"  when  he  started 
for  Massachusetts  in  1775  and  here,  full  of  years,  she  died  in 
1789.  Many  of  Washington's  earlier  years  were  spent  here 
and  the  chief  glory  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  of  Frederic ksburg 
is  in  the  fact  that  the  subsequent  Father  of  his  Counrty  was  a 
member.  A  special  dispensation  was  issued  to  permit  his 
entrance  before  twenty-one  years  of  age  and,  upon  the  walls 
of  the  lodge  room,  hangs  one  of  C.  W.  Peale's  portraits  of 
Washington.  However,  the  storm  of  war  about  to  break  upon 
the  devoted  city  was  to  spare  all  the  furnishings  of  the  lodge, 
the  home  of  Mary  Washington,  and  the  grave,  so  long  her 
silent  abode. 

When  Burnside  assumed  the  command  of  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  one  of  the  first  questions  put  to  him  by  General 
Halleck  was  as  to  what  he  intended  to  do  with  it.  McClellan, 
we  know,  had  proposed  striking  the  Confederates  when  in  an 


DEC.  6-11,  '62  FREDERICKSBURG  155 

/ 

extended  and  divided  condition.  The  new  commander  took 
eleven  days  in  which  to  rearrange  his  forces,  considerably 
above  100,000  in  numbers,  into  three  grand  divisions,  under  the 
command  of  Sumner  for  the  Right,  Hooker  with  the  Central, 
and  Franklin  the  Left,  each  division  including  two  Army 
Corps.  The  Tenth  Massachusetts  was  within  the  left  wing. 
Critics  of  the  campaign  urge  that  Burnside  ought  to  have 
advanced  more  quickly  and  state  that  when  Meade  was  given 
Hooker's  place,  there  was  not  the  delay  of  even  a  day  in  the 
onward  move  of  the  Army.  In  his  reply  to  the  Commander- 
in-Chief,  Burnside  proclaimed  his  intention  to  feint  towards 
Culpeper  and  Gordonsville  while  his  real  intention  was  to 
mass  his  forces  opposite  Fredericksburg,  cross  the  Rappa- 
hannock  there,  and  thence  move  on  the  Confederate  Capital. 
These  plans  received  the  approval  of  the  President  and  it  was 
in  the  preliminaries  of  such  action  that  the  Tenth  Regiment 
had  been  marching  through  rain,  snow  and  mud  for  two 
weeks.  Burnside  had  been  in  command  more  than  a  month 
and  affairs  were  now  ripening  rapidly. 

With  military  prescience,  Lee  had  fathomed  the  purposes 
of  Burnside  and  had  concentrated  his  own  forces  on  the  heights 
which  formed  a  background  for  .the  city.  Not  being  so 
numerous,  they  had  the  advantage  of  position  and  were  con 
tent  to  wait  the  approach  of  the  Union  Army.  Were  our 
province  the  description  of  the  battle  in  detail,  pages  would 
be  devoted  to  the  laying  of  the  pontoon  bridges,  the  prodigies 
of  valor  exhibited  by  men  from  Massachusetts  and  the  West; 
the  advance  on  the  13th  of  the  great  army  to  its  terrible 
slaughter;  the  immortal  place  won  in  American  history  on 
Marye's  Heights,  up  whose  slopes  brave  men  charged  to  cer 
tain  death;  the  failure  of  Franklin  to  advance  with  his  left 
wing  as  Burnside  had  expected  him  to  do  and  the  cessation 
of  fighting  on  that  fatal  Saturday ;  the  remaining  under  arms 
for  two  days  and  the  silent  withdrawal  to  the  Stafford  side 
of  the  river;  all  this  would  be  our  province  but,  now,  we  are 
to  follow  the  experiences  of  just  one  regiment  in  that  vast  array 
of  several  hundred  equally  brave  and  well  organized  bodies. 


156  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  llth,  we  started  for  the  banks 
of  the  Rappahannock  and  reached  the  lower  pontoon  bridges 
at  about  ten  o'clock.  A  heavy  fog  overhung  the  river  and 
surrounding  country  and  it  was  difficult  to  make  out  objects 
across  the  stream.  We  were  about  a  mile  below  the  city  and 
back  of  us  were  batteries  of  light  artillery  while  at  our  right 
were  the  heavy  siege  guns  of  the  First  Connecticut  Heavy 
Artillery.  Near  the  river  and  commanding  the  pontoons  was 
a  battery  of  six  brass  guns.  Opposite  was  a  dwelling  house 
and  out-buildings  which  afforded  shelter  for  sharpshooters 
who  had  complete  range  of  the  floating  bridge.  While  the 
cannon  of  Couch  and  Sumner  on  the  right  were  maintaining 
a  furious  artillery  roar,  there  being  no  indications  of  a  dis 
position  to  attempt  the  crossing  at  once,  the  men  took  a  useful 
lunch  of  coffee,  hard-tack  and  pork.  The  days  are  short  in 
December  and  the  sun  had  nearly  gone  down  at  five  o'clock, 
when  orders  came  to  cross  the  bridges.  The  Second  Rhode 
Island  was  detailed  for  skirmish  duty  and  so  led  the  way, 
closely  followed  by  the  Tenth.  The  other  bridges  were  used 
by  the  remaining  regiments  of  the  brigade  with  two  of  Coch- 
rane's  Brigade.  The  crossing  w^as  covered  by  a  battery  of 
light  guns  which  compelled  the  retreat  of  the  sharpshooters 
who  had  infested  the  structures  opposite.  General  Devens, 
with  Lieut.  Wm.  Russell,  Jr.,  Asst.  Adjutant  General,  was  on 
the  pontoons  with  the  skirmishers,  crossing  at  double  quick. 
Reaching  the  other  side  the  Rhode  Islanders  quickly  deployed 
as  skirmishers,  exchanging  a  few  shots  with  the  enemy,  who 
quickly  retired.  Our  Regiment,  followed  by  the  remainder 
of  the  brigade,  marched  by  the  flank  to  its  position  in  line  of 
battle  and  fronted.  There  came  a  few  scattering  shots  and 
then  all  was  quiet,  we  remaining  there  until  dark,  when 
pickets  were  stationed  and  the  Tenth  returned  to  the  vicinity 
of  the  house  where  General  Devens  had  established  his  head 
quarters.  Describing  the  situation,  one  of  the  soldiers  of  the 
Regiment,  after  mentioning  the  hills  back  of  the  city  remarks, 
"These  hills  are  covered  with  redoubts,  rifle  pits  and  forts. 
From  the  foot  of  the  hills  to  the  river  is  a  large  open  plain 


DEC.  12,  '62  FREDERICKSBURG  157 

which  our  troops  must  cross  in  order  to  get  to  the  Rebs,  and 
this  whole  plain  is  commanded  by  the  Rebel  batteries  in  such 
a  way  that  they  can  get  a  cross  fire  on  any  part  of  it,  and  to 
morrow  our  troops  must  cross  this  plain.  It  will  be  death  to 
a  good  many." 

Generals  W.  F.  Smith  and  John  Newton,  of  the  Sixth  Corps 
and  Third  Division,  respectively,  witnessed  the  crossing. 
A  cold  winter's  night  settled  down  upon  these  soldiers,  the 
most  of  them  tenderly  reared,  and  with  no  protection  against 
the  rigors  of  December,  they  sought  such  rest  as  darkness  and 
the  cold  earth  could  afford.  "The  worst  night  I  ever  passed," 
said  many  a  man  as  long  as  he  lived.  The  12th,  Friday, 
produced  another  heavy  fog;  heavy  firing  was  resumed  on  the 
right  and  there  was  some  on  the  left,  but  nothing  assailed  the 
position  of  the  Regiment,  which  was  unchanged  from  that 
of  the  first  day.  The  13th  of  December  is  indissolubly  con 
nected  with  the  dreadful  battle  for  the  possession  of  the 
heights  beyond  Fredericksburg,  and  the  many  acres  of  little 
white  headstones,  so  long  known  as  the  National  Cemetery 
of  Fredericksburg,  attest  the  mortality  of  that  terrible  day 
and  the  bravery  of  those  who  fought.  There  are  northern 
households  that  even  yet  lament  the  members  who  there 
yielded  up  their  young  lives  in  their  efforts  to  accomplish  the 
impossible.  The  loss  on  the  Union  side  was  12,321  killed, 
wounded  and  missing;  that  of  the  Confederates  5,309.  "A 
slaughter,"  Swinton  says,  "the  most  bloody  and  useless  of 
the  war."  For  some  reason  a  merciful  fate  decreed  that  the 
Tenth  should  have  only  a  minor  part  in  that  terrible  struggle. 
The  thunder  of  the  strife  roared  on  both  sides  of  our  Regiment 
and  those  associated  with  it,  but  little  harm  came  near  them, 
just  seventeen  wounded  in  the  entire  brigade.  Many  pages 
of  print  tell  of  the  valor  of  the  day  and  of  the  sufferings  that 
followed,  but  in  them  the  Regiment  is  not  mentioned,  an 
omission  that  the  friends  at  home  have  never  regretted. 
While  the  Irish  Ninth  of  Massachusetts  and  her  Twenty-First 
won  imperishable  renown,  (Plunkett,  the  armless  Sergeant 
of  the  latter  body,  living  for  many  years,  a  sad  relic  of  war's 


158,  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

horrors)  the  Tenth  saw  and  heard,  was  ever  ready,  yet  was 
not  called  in.  Marye's  Heights  or  Hill  will  ever  arouse  dread 
memories  of  bravery  unsurpassed,  so  grand  that  its  exhibition 
drew  from  Lee,  as  he  placed  his  hand  upon  the  arm  of  Long- 
street,  both  beholding  the  awful  scene,  "It  is  well  that  war 
is  so  terrible,  or  we  would  grow  too  fond  of  it." 

Sargent  of  Company  K  has  the  following  entry  for  the  13th 
which  seems  a  fair  presentation  of  the  situation  for  himself 
and  Regiment  during  the  battle: 

This  has  been  a  terrible  day  to  the  Army  of  the  Potomac. 
We  (i.  e.,  the  army  as  a  whole)  have  been  fighting  all  day  and 
have  accomplished  nothing,  except  to  lose  thousands  of  men 
killed,  wounded  and  prisoners.  General  Sumner  commanded 
on  the  right.  His  troops  charged  the  works  on  Marye's 
Heights  four  times,  only  to  be  driven  back  each  time  with 
fearful  slaughter.  General  Franklin  commanded  on  the  left 
and  part  of  his  troops  and  General  Meade's  Division  from  the 
center  (commanded  by  Hooker)  were  fighting  on  the  left. 
About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  our 
brigade  was  sent  down  to  the  left  to  support  some  batteries 
there.  The  Rebels  had  a  beautiful  range  on  our  batteries, 
both  in  front  and  left  flank.  Their  shells  burst  over  us,  in  front 
and  all  around  us,  and  struck  in  the  ground  around  without 
bursting.  *  *  *  About  nine  o'clock  the  firing 
ceased  and  our  brigade  fell  back  and  got  a  good  night's  rest. 

The  14th  passed  in  quiet,  a  day  of  consideration  for  Burn- 
side,  one  of  expected  attack  by  Lee;  the  Union  soldiers 
wondering  when  they  would  advance,  the  Confederates  on 
the  lookout  for  the  onslaught  which  never  came.  On  the 
contrary,  the  Regiment  drew  rations  and,  under  arms* 
awaited  orders.  Before  daylight  of  the  15th,  we  were  awak 
ened  and,  after  a  hasty  breakfast,  marched  up  to  the  front 
and  were  placed  in  the  first  line  of  battle  with  skirmishers 
thrown  out  and  with  troops  in  reserve.  On  our  right  was  a 
battery  which,  opening  on  a  body  of  Rebel  cavalry,  quickly 
put  it  to  flight.  There  were  many  premonitory  symptoms  of 
an  engagement  but  they  did  not  materialize.  Burnside,  who 
had  determined  to  again  take  the  offensive  and  even  lead  a 
forlorn  hope  at  the  head  of  his  Ninth  Corps,  had  yielded  to 


DEC.  18,  '62  FALMOUTH  159 

dissuasive  advice  and,  after  a  day  of  anxiety,  ordered  the 
hosts  to  recross  the  river.  To  our  Regiment  was  allotted 
the  dangerous  post  of  rear  guard  for  the  left  wing,  and  it  was 
the  very  last  to  leave.  First  went  the  main  body  of  the  army, 
then  the  picket  line  was  withdrawn  and  went  over  and,  last 
of  all,  the  Tenth  Massachusetts  turned  its  back  upon  the  foe. 
So  many  were  there  to  cross  and  so  slow  was  the  marching  on 
the  pontoons,  it  was  fully  daylight  ere  the  retreat  was  accom 
plished  and  the  city  was  left  to  the  enemy.  The  army  which 
in  story  so  bravely  marched  up  the  hill  had  again  marched  down 
the  same.  The  engineers  were  on  the  bridge  during  the  crossing 
and  immediately  began  taking  it  up  as  the  last  man  went  by. 
After  changes  of  location  on  the  16th  and  17th,  the  Regi 
ment  found  itself,  on  the  18th,  encamped  in  a  pine  thicket 
about  two  miles  from  Falmouth.  During  these  moves  the 
men  experienced  much  suffering  from  their  old  Virginia 
enemy,  rain,  which  in  those  days  was  very  cold,  in  one  instance 
where  the  ground  was  too  wet  to  form  a  bed,  compelling  the 
men  to  spend  the  night  sitting  on  their  knapsacks,  with  rubber 
blankets  thrown  over  their  heads.  When  men  could  sleep  in 
such  attitudes  they  must  have  known  what  weariness  was,  but 
when  they  did  get  natural  sleep  and  good  food  they  were 
straightway  themselves  again.  Lieutenants  Crane,  Knox  and 
Moore,  who  were  among  those  resigning  after  Antietam, 
having  been  dismissed  the  service,  left  for  home  on  the  18th. 
Two  days  later  the  other  officers  who  were  tried  with  them 
also  received  their  notifications  and  soon  returned  to  the 
North.  The  four  captains  were  cashiered  and  the  lieutenants 
were  dismissed  the  service.  Of  these  officers,  Captain  Pierce, 
having  been  rehabilitated,  was  reappointed  and  transferred 
to  the  37th  Massachusetts;  Captain  Newell,  by  letter  from 
the  War  Department,  had  his  disabilities  removed  and  the 
Governor  was  authorized  to  recommission  him.  As  will  be 
seen  by  the  roster,  Lieutenant  Remington  of  Company  G 
was  also  recommissioned.  Very  likely,  had  all  the  unfortunate 
officers  made  equal  effort,  they  too  might  have  been  restored 
to  rank  and  emoluments. 


160  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

While  the  report  of  General  Devens  on  the  part  taken  by  his 
brigade  in  the  battle  is  not  particularly  thrilling,  yet,  as  it 
presents  a  good  account  of  just  what  the  Tenth  and  other 
regiments  did,  it  is  appended  in  full: 

Headquarters,  Second  Brigade, 
Near  Falmouth,  Va.,  Dec.  17,  '62. 

Lieutenant :  In  regard  to  the  part  taken  by  this  brigade  in 
the  recent  operations  on  the  Rappahannock,  I  have  the  honor 
to  report  that,  about  an  hour  before  sunset  on  the  evening  of 
Thursday,  the  llth  inst.,  I  received  the  order  from  Brigadier 
General  Newton,  commanding  the  division,  to  cross  my 
brigade  as  the  advance  guard  of  the  left  wing  of  the  army 
over  the  pontoon  bridges  which  had  been  constructed  over 
the  Rappahannock.  General  Newton  further  directed  that 
I  should  cross  the  brigade  in  two  columns,  preceding  it  by 
skirmishers,  and  should  rest  the  right  of  my  brigade  line,  as 
soon  as  I  could  form  it,  upon  the  bank  of  a  ravine,  which  he 
designated.  The  brigade  was  immediately  moved  to  the 
bridges,  and  three  companies  of  the  Second  Rhode  Island 
Regiment  were  thrown  across  in  advance,  under  Capt.  S.  B.  M. 
Read,  of  that  regiment,  supported  at  once  by  the  rest  of  the 
regiment  (Colonel  Wheat  on).  The  two  columns,  consisting 
of  the  Tenth  Massachusetts,  Colonel  Eustis,  and  Seventh 
Massachusetts,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Harlow,  by  the  upper 
bridge,  and  the  Thirty-seventh  Massachusetts,  Colonel  Ed 
wards,  and  Thirty-sixth  New  York,  Colonel  Browne,  by  the 
lower  bridge,  immediately  followed.  On  crossing,  the  skir 
mishers  almost  immediately  engaged  those  of  the  enemy,  a 
considerable  body  of  whom  were  posted  in  the  garden  and 
cluster  of  houses  just  above  the  bridges,  and  along  the  front, 
but  found  no  serious  difficulty  in  forcing  them  out  of  the  gar 
den  and  houses,  and  driving  them  away  from  our  immediate 
front,  so  that  the  other  regiments  could  form  without  embar 
rassment. 

In  this  affair  three  privates  and  a  capatin  of  a  Georgia 
regiment  were  taken  prisoners  by  our  skirmishers.  Two  men 
of  the  Second  Rhode  Island  were  wounded,  and,  probably, 
much  greater  injury  was  inflicted  on  the  enemy. 

Having  crossed  with  the  skirmishers,  I  indicated  to  Colonel 
Eustis,  as  he  led  the  Tenth  Massachusetts  up  the  bank,  the 
designated  bank  point  to  form  in  line,  which  he  did  at  once, 
and  was  followed  rapidly  by  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade. 
The  other  brigades  of  the  division  were  also  moved  across  the 


DEC.  17,  '62  DEVENS'  REPORT  161 

river  and  formed,  but  were  almost  instantly  withdrawn,  and 
I  was  directed,  with  the  brigade,  to  hold  the  crossing  during 
the  night.  The  position  of  the  line  was  changed,  as  far  as 
was  deemed  necessary,  for  this  purpose,  by  drawing  it  in 
closely,  so  as  to  form  a  tete-de-pont,  and  during  the  night  (one 
of  the  bitterest  of  the  season)  the  men  were  awake  and  under 
arms,  the  outposts  and  pickets  being  several  times  engaged 
with  those  of  the  enemy,  especially  soon  after  daylight  the 
next  morning.  During  the  day,  the  left  wing  of  the  army 
having  crossed,  the  brigade  was  twice  under  artillery  fire 
from  the  batteries  of  the  enemy,  and  also  on  Saturday  morn 
ing,  by  which  it  suffered  considerably. 

On  Saturday  afternoon  the  brigade  was  moved  farther  to 
the  left  than  the  position  it  had  previously  occupied  in  front 
of  the  bridges,  and  for  the  two  hours  before  nightfall  was 
under  a  very  severe  fire  of  shot  and  shell  from  the  batteries 
of  the  enemy.  The  casualties  suffered  at  this  time  and  at 
the  former  times  will  be  found  in  the  annexed  list. 

On  Sunday,  the  brigade  was  in  reserve,  and  on  Monday  in 
the  front  line,  but  in  no  way  engaged.  On  Monday  evening, 
learning  the  intention  to  evacuate,  I  requested  that  this 
brigade,  having  been  the  first  to  cross,  might  be  the  last  to 
recross  the  river.  It  was  accordingly  designated,  with  that 
commanded  by  Colonel  Torbert  of  New  Jersey,  to  form  the 
tete-de-pont,  and  cover  the  retreat.  After  the  main  body  of 
the  left  wing  had  evacuated,  these  brigades  having  in  the 
meantime  been  drawn  up  in  two  lines,  the  pickets,  who  had 
been  left  at  their  posts,  were  sent  for.  So  silently  had  the 
retreat  been  effected,  that  in  most  cases  they  were  found  not 
aware  of  it. 

At  about  four  o'clock  it  was  reported  that  the  pickets, 
which  had  consisted  of  two  regiments  from  each  of  the  divisions 
of  Brigadier  Generals  Brooks,  Newton,  Sickles,  Birney  and 
Doubleday,  were  in,  and  after  waiting  a  short  time  for  any 
stragglers  who  might  have  lost  their  way,  I  gave  the  order 
for  the  front  line  to  retreat ;  the  second  line  immediately 
followed  it.  The  Tenth  Massachusetts  was  the  last  regiment 
to  cross,  followed  by  the  bridge  guard  under  Captain  Read, 
of  the  Second  Rhode  Island,  and  the  bridges  were  at  once 
taken  up.  Boats  were  kept  on  the  other  side  of  the  river 
until  after  daybreak,  to  take  off  any  stragglers,  but,  as  reported 
to  me,  only  a  very  small  number  appeared,  so  carefully*  and 
thoroughly  had  the  retreat  been  conducted. 

The  behavior  of  the  whole  command,  both  officers  and  men, 


162  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

for  spirit  and  willingness,  could  not  be  exceeded,  and  I  do 
not  specify  particular  instances,  because  good  conduct  was 
universal.  Captain  Read,  of  the  Second  Rhode  Island,  is 
entitled  to  the  honor  of  having  first  crossed  the  bridge  and 
engaged  the  skirmishers  of  the  enemy. 

I  am  under  special  obligations,  for  their  zeal  and  fidelity, 
to  my  staff,  Capt.  G.  W.  Baldwin,  assistant  adjutant  general, 
who  was  severely  injured;   my  aide,  Lieut.  E.  Washburn,  Jr., 
and  Quartermaster  J.  Aborn,  volunteer  aide-de-camp. 
I  have  the  honor  to  be,  your  obedient  servant 

Charles  Devens,  Jr. 

Brigadier  General,  Commanding  Brigade 
Lieutenant  Russell, 

Acting  Assistant  Adjutant  General 

On  this  same  date,  viz,  Dec.  17th,  General  Devens  addressed 
a  letter  to  Col.  A.  G.  Brown,  Military  Secretary  to  Governor 
Andrew,  in  reply  to  one  from  the  Colonel  asking  information 
for  the  Governor  concerning  the  discipline,  harmony,  equip 
ment,  etc.,  of  the  Tenth  Regiment,  saying  that  reports  un 
favorable  to  its  welfare  were  widely  circulated.  The  substance 
of  General  Devens 's  letter  was  to  the  effect  that  the  remaining 
with  the  Regiment  of  the  officers  who  had  resigned,  pending 
their  trial  and  awaiting  the  results  of  the  same,  had  had  an 
unfortunate  influence  on  the  organization,  but  otherwise  he 
knew  of  nothing  likely  to  disturb  its  harmony.  As  to  military 
equipment,  the  Regiment  was  and  always  had  been  most 
thoroughly  equipped.  While  there  had  been  a  scarcity  of 
clothing  in  September  and  October,  the  men  also  suffering 
from  a  want  of  shoes,  these  wants  had  been  supplied.  He 
said  that  the  quality  of  the  shoes  furnished  had  been  such  as 
to  bring  on  suffering  again  in  a  few  weeks,  though  this  condi 
tion  was  in  no  way  peculiar  to  the  Tenth,  since  another  regi 
ment  had  been  obliged  to  march  with  nearly  one  hundred  men 
shoeless.  Where  the  "number  seven"  shoe  could  not  be  ob 
tained  he  had  ordered  the  Quartermaster  to  take  "eights" 
and  distribute  them.  An  inference  may  be  drawn  from  this 
statement  that  the  trouble  over  the  shoeless  soldiers  in  Lieuten 
ant  Putnam's  case  may  have  arisen  from  their  unwillingness 
to  take  a  shoe  larger  than  their  proper  size.  He  said  the 


DEC.  25,  '62  FALMOUTH  163 

discipline  was  excellent  and  always  had  been,  illustrating  his 
good  opinion  by  rehearsing  in  substance  the  report  on  Freder 
ic  ksburg.  "I  have  been  thus  particular  in  showing  the  events 
of  the  last  four  days,  as  I  believe  they  show  in  themselves, 
more  than  I  can  in  any  other  way  write,  my  confidence  in 
the  Tenth  Massachusetts,  its  most  able  Colonel,  and  its 
officers  and  men  now  on  duty.  *  *  *  His 
Excellency  may  be  assured  that  the  honor  of  the  flags  of  the 
Union  and  the  State,  is  entirely  safe  in  its  hands." 

The  camp  which  the  men  now  called  theirs  was  about  three 
miles  from  Falmouth  and  where  it  began  the  woods  were  so 
dense  that  it  was  difficult  to  form  a  line,  but  the  necessities 
of  hut   building  and   fuel   soon  reduced  the   forest   to   such 
proportions  that  wood  for  burning  had  to  be  carried  long 
distances  on  the  backs  of  the  men.     Though  the  labor  was 
hard  the  men  thought  it  preferable  to  fighting  under  recent 
conditions.     Visits  were  received  from  acquaintances  in  other 
regiments,   particularly   from  the   21st   Massachusetts   which 
fared  so  hard  on  the  13th,  losing  thirteen  killed  and  over  fifty 
wounded.    Christmas  day  in  camp  was  not  a  merry  one  though 
some  brave  hearts  attempted  some  betterment  of  their  regular 
rations  by  resorting  to  the  sutler.     The  general  tone  of  the 
army  was  low.     "General"  Discouragement  seemed  to  be  in 
command.     "Officers  and  men,"  in  the  language  of  Gen.  E.  V. 
Sumner,  "are  indulging  in  a  great  deal  of  croaking,  there  is 
not  enough  confidence.    Thus  the  old  year  died ;  though  it  had 
had  its  victories  as  well  as  defeats,  the  general  impression  was 
far  from  being  a  happy  one.     President  Lincoln  had  issued 
his  Emancipation  Proclamation,  September  22d,  and  many 
were  expecting  beneficial  results,  but  there  were  soldiers  who 
regarded   it    otherwise   and   desertions   thereby   had   become 
common,  not    so   much   among   New    England  regiments  as 
among  those  from  other  sections. 

1  863 

One  of  the  first  events  of  the  new  year  was  the  readjustment 
of  commissioned  officers,  incident  to  the  resignation  of  the 


164  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

officers  in  September  and  the  outcome  thereof.  All  had  gone 
home  except  Captain  Pierce,  whose  papers  having  been  lost 
or  overlooked,  had  resumed  his  place  in  his  Company.  Lieut 
enant  Colonel  Parsons  who  had  been  absent  on  account  of 
illness  returned  and  at  once  took  an  active  interest  in  the  men. 
Orders  were  received  Jan.  5th  to  have  three  days'  cooked 
rations  in  the  haversacks  that  night,  said  "cooked  rations" 
consisting  of  raw  pork,  hard-tack,  coffee  and  sugar.  In  those 
January  days  the  Regiment  was  trying  to  make  itself  com 
fortable  in  the  camp  near  White  Oak  Church,  the  same  being 
not  far  from  Falmouth.  With  true  Saxon  industry  the  soldiers 
had  set  about  making  winter  quarters,  constructing  them  of 
logs  in  the  old  fashioned  cob-pile  manner,  chinking  the  spaces 
with  mud,  of  which  there  was  no  lack,  and  stretching  a  shelter 
tent  above  the  logs  for  a  roof.  Some  of  these  followed  the 
style  of  the  Brightwood  structures,  though  the  chimneys 
were  more  after  the  southern  order,  being  made  of  sticks  and 
mud,  with  a  barrel  for  the  top  piece.  During  the  stay  there 
the  Regiment  did  not  lack  for  plenty  of  picket  and  outpost 
duty,  and  notwithstanding  the  rigor  of  the  season,  the  general 
health  of  the  men  was  good. 

Away  up  in  Springfield,  the  home  city,  the  Republican  was 
having  a  deal  of  matter  in  its  columns  concerning  the  condi 
tion  of  our  Regiment.  As  far  back  as  Dec.  4th  the  paper  had 
an  article  purporting  to  result  from  an  interview  with  Mr. 
Wm.  Birnie,  whose  coming  to  the  Regiment  has  already  been 
mentioned  and  whose  arrival  home  was  naturally  noticed. 
On  the  9th  of  January,  over  his  own  name,  Mr.  Birnie  set 
forth  his  impressions,  bearing  particularly  on  the  vexed  ques 
tion  of  Major  Parker  and  the  resignation  of  the  officers  and 
the  long  wait  following  their  trial.  The  preceding  morning, 
or  that  of  the  8th,  Samuel  Bowles,  the  famous  editor  of  the 
Republican,  had  given  a  very  full  statement  as  to  the  condition 
of  the  Regiment,  not  alone  for  the  satisfaction  of  the  soldiers 
themselves,  but  to  please  the  folks  at  home  who  could  not 
help  being  very  anxious  over  the  many  articles  for  and  against, 
with  which  the  local  press  was  teeming.  If  his  sympathies 


JAN.  9,  '63  ON  PICKET  165 

had  a  leaning  towards  the  officers  who  had  fared  so  hard  in 
their  efforts  to  resign,  he  simply  spoke  the  sentiments  of  the 
majority  of  the  citizens  of  the  locality  whence  the  officers  had 
gone  into  the  service,  and  into  whose  society  they  had  now 
returned. 

Jan.  9th,  there  began  a  three  days'  tour  of  picket  duty  for 
the  Regiment,  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  in  sight  of  the  place 
where  the  crossing  had  been  in  December,  and  here  began 
some   of   those    strange   experiences    of   these    northern   and 
southern  soldiers  of  the  same  race  and  language,  bearing  no 
personal  enmity,   separated  only  by  some  differences  as  to 
their  respective  opinions  about  the  Constitution,  though  not 
one  in  twenty  on  either  side  could  have  quoted  a  dozen  words 
from  its  preamble.     Having  agreed  not  to  fire  on  each  other, 
these  men  in  blue  and  gray  would  converse  freely  over  the 
stream  and,   if  officers  were   not  too  near,   exchange   news 
papers,  not   to   mention  their  constant  flow  of  badinage  in 
which   both    Federal   and    Rebel   remarkably   excelled.      The 
Fifth   South   Carolina  was  immediately   opposite  the   Tenth 
and  yet  the  Rappahannock  flowed  on  unvexed  between  these 
typical  representatives  of  the  most  divergent  interpretations 
of  the   great   document   on   which  the   Union  was   founded. 
A  Spencer  lad  in  Company  H  said  that  he  talked  with  a  man 
from  Texas  who  proclaimed  himself  sick  of  the  war  and  wished 
it  wTas  over,  at  the  same  time  declaring  it  would  last  until 
the  South  gained  its  independence.     From  Company  K  comes 
these  words,  "The  river  is  about  twenty  yards  wide  at  this 
point.     We  don't  have  any  trouble  with  the  Rebels.     As  soon 
as  we  get  on  picket  we  put  our  bayonet  on  the  gun  and  stick 
it  in  the  ground,  fix  up  a  little  fire  and  sit  down  and  enjoy  it. 
The  Rebs  do  the  same.     The  headquarters  of  our  portion  of 
the  line  is  an  old  grist  mill  and  there  are  so  many  of  us  that 
we  do  not  have  to  stand  but  twice  in  twenty-four  hours.     My 
turn  is  from  six  to  eight  in  the  morning  and  six  to  eight  at 
night,  so  I  have  the  whole  night  to  myself  and  the  day  also. 
South  Carolina  troops  are  the  pickets  on  the  other  side  of 
the  river." 


166  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

In  the  exchange  of  items  over  the  river,  S.  N.  Rice  of  Com 
pany  E  sent  over  some  yeast  cakes  which  the  Rebels  did  not 
recognize,  and  while  he  was  trying  to  make  them  understand 
their  use,  along  rode  Major  Parker  on  his  horse,  "Malty,"  and 
he  remarked,  "Ah,  having  a  good  time,  Private  Rice,  disobey 
ing  orders,  are  you?"  But  no  such  rebuke  could  prevent  the 
men  on  both  sides  trading  whenever  opportunity  arose  and 
the  descendant  from  the  Huguenot  or  Cavalier  was  just  as 
ready  for  a  swap  as  the  son  of  the  commercial  Yankee.  Some 
of  the  boys  thought  there  was  a  remarkable  recognition  of 
the  fitness  of  things  when  one  of  the  "Johnnies"  sent  over  a 
small  craft  bearing  the  significant  name  on  its  sail,  "Body- 
louse,"  though  all  agreed  that  the  sender  had  a  plenty  left. 
The  Major  and  his  favorite  steed  were  well  known  and  some 
times  his  confidence  in  the  truthfulness  of  the  soldiers  led  him 
into  trouble,  since  one  of  them  told  him  a  certain  route  was 
perfectly  feasible  but,  attempting  to  ride  down  the  same,  he 
was  thrown  over  "Marty's"  head,  the  road  being  too  pre 
cipitous  for  any  horse. 

Men  and  home  parties  were  complaining  because  of  the  want 
of  promptness  in  the  allotment  commissioners,  more  than  a 
month  having  elapsed  since  the  last  payment  and  no  notice 
had  come  of  the  reception  of  the  moneys  in  the  respective 
homes.  Lieutenant  Putnam,  whose  case  was  heard  at  last, 
and  in  which  he  had  pleaded  guilty  to  the  charge  of  disobedi 
ence  of  orders,  had  been  released  from  arrest  and  returned  to 
duty.  Chaplain  A.  J.  Bingham,  who  had  been  in  ill  health 
for  some  time,  had  taken  the  surgeon's  advice  and  had  sent 
in  his  resignation,  the  same  taking  effect  on  the  16th  of  the 
month.  His  uniform  kindness  and  attention  to  duty  had 
won  for  him  the  respect  and  good  will  of  every  man  in  the 
Regiment.  In  leaving  the  organization  he  made  a  farewell 
address,  feeling  in  character  and  filled  with  excellent  advice. 

On  the  16th,  orders  were  received  to  have  three  days' 
rations  in  the  haversacks  and  to  be  ready  to  march  in  the 
morning,  of  which  nothing  came,  though  this  order  was 
really  premonitory  of  the  famous 


JAN.  21,  '63  MUD  MARCH  167 

MUD  MARCH 

General  Burnside,  restive  under  the  result  of  his  unfortunate 
attack  on  Fredericksburg,  was  anxious  to  retrieve  his  reputa 
tion  and  determined  on  fighting  the  Rebels  again.  To  the 
end  that  the  enemy  might  not  know  his  real  point  of  con 
templated  attack,  he  had  been  building  roads  in  several 
directions  and  he  intended  to  make  feints  at  several  points, 
while  his  real  purpose  was  to  cross  at  Banks's  Ford,  some  six 
miles  up  the  Rappahannock,  all  of  which  would  have  been 
very  well  were  it  not  that  General  Lee  was  not  idle  during  all 
of  these  days,  and  Burnside's  plans,  if  not  absolutely  known, 
at  least  were  strongly  suspected  by  the  vigilant  commander 
of  the  Confederates.  Indeed,  on  the  evening  of  the  19th, 
Rebel  pickets  shouted  across  the  river,  "Burnside  is  going  to 
try  to  cross  the  river  at  Banks's  Ford,  but  he  will  find  every 
thing  in  readiness  to  receive  him."  For  fully  a  month,  the 
weather  and  roads  had  been  all  that  could  be  asked  for,  but 
hardlv  had  the  expedition  started  before  the  rain  commenced 
also.  Northern  soldiers  had  begun  to  think  that  Pluvius 
was  in  league  with  the  enemy,  though,  on  second  thought, 
they  realized  that  his  liquid  compliments  were  just  as  wet 
for  Rebels  as  they  were  for  Union  soldiers.  The  Grand 
Divisions  of  Franklin  and  Hooker  moved  up  the  river  on 
parallel  roads  and,  at  night,  camped  conveniently  near  the 
ford.  Couch's  Corps  moved  down  the  river,  as  if  intending 
to  attack  in  that  direction,  while  final  arrangements  were 
made  to  attack  on  the  21st;  then  came  the  rain. 

That  storm,  like  so  many  during  the  war,  came  near  break 
ing  all  former  records.  Though  the  men  built  fires  and  put 
up  their  shelter  tents,  the  latter  would  not,  could  not  shelter 
the  occupants  wTho,  soaked  to  the  skin,  waited  and  prayed  for 
the  morning.  Turning  out  at  4.30  a.  m.  of  the  21st,  there 
was  no  waiting  for  breakfast  even,  but  "Forward"  was  the 
wrord.  Soon  the  pontoon  train  was  passed ;  the  same  stuck  fast 
in  the  mud  and  the  men  in  charge  of  it  swore  furiously. 
At  ten  o'clock  was  heard  the  welcome  order,  "Halt"  and 


168  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

breakfast  was  prepared.  Next  came  orders  to  pack  up  and 
to  seek  new  quarters  on  a  side  hill  half  a  mile  away.  Otis 
Littlejohn  of  Company  I,  overcome  by  the  rigors  of  the  march 
and  weather,  was  taken  sick  and  died  soon  after.  Of  the  mud, 
one  of  the  waders  reports,  "  I  have  seen  mud  from  a  foot  and  a 
half  to  two  feet  deep,  with  a  hundred  men,  by  means  of  a  rope? 
trying  to  pull  along  a  pontoon  wagon  having  six  mules  hitched 
to  it,  yet,  though  all  worked  together,  they  made  no  impression. 
*  *  *  When  we  moved  our  camp  to  a  side  hill, 
it  was  an  improvement  because  the  water  would  run  down 
hill  and  we,  too,  would  have  rolled  down  were  it  not  for  the 
sticks,  driven  into  the  ground  with  larger  ones  crossing, 
against  which  we  braced  our  feet  and  so  managed  to  remain." 
Everybody  expected  to  be  up  and  off  early  on  the  22d,  but 
we  were  doomed  to  disappointment,  for  though  we  were 
ordered  to  pack  up  the  order  was  soon  countermanded  and 
another  day  was  spent  on  the  hillside  with  the  air  full  of  mist 
if  nothing  worse.  Across  the  river  where  we  had  seen  a  farmer 
spreading  manure  and  ploughing,  now  loomed  a  long  line  of 
rifle  pits.  Towards  night  the  weather  cleared.  The  morning 
call  of  the  23d  came  at  four  o'clock  and  now,  surely,  would 
come  the  move  to  cross  again,  at  least  so  the  soldiers  thought. 
Again,  however,  they  were  wrong,  since  Burnside,  having 
yielded  to  the  advice  of  his  associate  officers,  had  decided  to 
go  back,  so  with  a  company  assigned  to  each  gun  of  McCarthey 's 
Battery,  just  to  help  it  along,  the  return  march  was  begun. 
Starting  at  10.00  a.  m.,  camp  was  reached  about  the  middle 
of  the  afternoon,  though  many  of  the  men,  worn  out  by  the 
exposures  and  hardships,  fell  out  completely  exhausted. 
Recognizing  the  deplorable  condition  of  the  Union  Army, 
jocular  Rebels  across  the  river  even  shouted  their  intentions 
to  cross  over  the  next  day  and  help  build  the  bridges,  and 
they  put  up  a  sign  so  big  that  we  could  read  it,  "Burnside's 
stuck  in  the  mud!"  Until  this  effort  at  campaigning  in 
winter,  the  possibilities  of  Virginia  mud  had  never  been  fully 
realized.  The  attempt,  also,  was  the  final  endeavor  of  General 
Burnside  to  retrieve  the  good  opinion  that  the  public  had  of 


JAN.  24-31,  '63  BURXSIDE  RESIGNS  169 

him  when  he  was  called  from  North  Carolina,  almost  a  year 
before.  Hooker  succeeded  him  soon  and  thereafter  his  com 
mand  was  of  a  subordinate  character. 

The  24th  was  cleaning-up  day  and  thereby  a  busy  one^ 
while  pioneers  labored  hard  in  digging  out  the  pontoon  wagons 
and  getting  them  back  to  camp.  The  26th  brought  back 
regular  habits  to  the  men,  in  that  they  were  inspected  by 
Captain  Reed,  while  Lieut.  W.  A.  Putnam  of  Company  E? 
having  resigned,  left  the  Regiment  for  home.  The  day  before, 
General  Burnside  had  tendered  his  resignation  and  the  Presi 
dent,  having  accepted  it,  appointed,  on  the  27th,  as  his 
successor  the  officer  known  to  so  many  as  "Fighting"  Joe 
Hooker.  Gen.  Wm.  B.  Franklin,  commanding  the  left  wing 
was  relieved  by  the  Secretary  of  War,  while  Gen.  E.  V.  Sumner, 
the  senior  of  Hooker  in  rank,  was  relieved  at  his  own  request, 
and  going  to  his  home  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  died  a  few  months 
afterwards.  The  farewell  address  of  General  Franklin  was 
read  on  the  27th  and  the  next  day  eight  inches  of  snow  fell, 
a  pretty  good  fall  for  any  section.  The  last  day  of  the  month 
brought  visitors  from  the  North  in  the  persons  of  Judge  Wells 
of  Chicopee  and  Mr.  Tiffany  of  Springfield. 

Though  commanding  officers  changed  and  some  of  them 
retired  to  their  homes  and  to  civil  life,  the  men  in  the  ranks 
stayed  on  and  were  performing  their  regular  round  of  duty. 
Friends  at  home  were  not  forgetful,  and  from  them  came 
tokens  of  remembrance  in  the  shape  of  food  and  clothing.  A 
Spencer  lad  thus  received  a  pair  of  boots,  comforter,  mittens, 
towels,  etc.,  to  his  manifest  comfort,  early  in  February.  To 
another  came  a  box  filled  with  creature  comforts,  the  most 
conspicuous  being  a  twelve-pound  turkey,  and  he  immediately 
set  about  preparing  a  great  dinner  in  memory  of  the  Thanks 
giving  feast  that  he  did  not  have  the  last  November.  By  the 
5th  the  men  were  pretty  well  aware  that  Hooker  was  in 
command,  that  the  grand  divisions  were  given  up  and  that 
the  Regiment,  with  others  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  was  under  the 
command  of  Gen.  John  Sedgwick  who  was  "Uncle  John"  to 
his  loyal  followers  until  the  bullet  of  the  rifleman  at  Spottsyl- 


170  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

vania  laid  him  low.  Gen.  W.  F.  Smith,  the  late  commander, 
had  been  ordered  to  the  Department  of  North  Carolina. 
Picket  duty  resumed  its  former  character  and  habits.  When 
the  attention  of  the  officers  was  not  too  close,  it  was  easy 
to  exchange  papers  and  other  commodities,  one  side  being 
just  as  ready  as  the  other.  Each  tour  of  duty,  done  by  regi 
ments,  was  three  days  long. 

All  sorts  of  rumors  filled  the  ears  of  the  men  as  to  what  the 
future  had  in  store  for  them,  among  others,  one  being  to  the 
effect  that  the  Tenth  would  go  to  Baltimore  to  do  provost 
duty  under  General  Briggs.  For  the  first  time  since  the 
Regiment  left  home,  furloughs  were  becoming  possibilities  to 
men  in  the  ranks,  though  they  were  for  only  ten  days,  the 
major  part  of  which  time  was  spent  in  going  and  coming. 
But  long  or  short,  only  those  who  had  been  home  on  furlough 
could  adequately  describe  its  pleasures.  Such  stories  of 
hardships  and  privations,  all  the  more  intense  in  the  presence 
of  the  comforts  which  home  had  in  abundance!  What  har 
rowing  tales  of  perils  in  battle,  possibly  of  wounds  received 
where  others  lost  their  lives,  heroes  in  blue  who,  before  enlist 
ment,  were  just  ordinary  men  and  boys!  Happy  he  who  had 
his  furlough  and  how  dreary  the  days  to  him  who,  for  any 
reason,  failed  to  get  his  leave  of  absence! 

As  early  as  the  1 1th  of  February  Colonel  Eustis  temporarily 
commanded  the  brigade.  Matters  in  camp  were  assuming 
quite  a  permanent  appearance  when  we  saw  new  ovens  erected 
with  the  intention  of  furnishing  loaves  of  new,  soft  bread 
every  day,  a  most  delightful  variant  on  the  hard  bread,  so 
long  in  vogue.  General  Hooker  ordered  a  more  liberal  dis 
tribution  of  vegetables  to  the  men,  thereby  in  no  way  lessening 
his  hold  on  them.  The  inspiriting  presence  of  General  Hooker 
soon  ended  desertions,  and  immediately  raised  the  hopes  and 
expectations  of  his  soldiers.  It  was  in  these  days  that  the 
different  Army  Corps  began  the  wearing  of  distinctive  Corps 
badges,  that  of  the  Sixth  being  the  Greek  cross,  in  all  future 
years  to  be  almost  worshipped  by  the  men  who  followed  it. 
As  members  of  the  Second  Brigade,  Third  Division,  the  Tenth 
Regiment  wore  the  cross  in  blue. 


FEB.  22,  '63  WASHINGTON'S  BIRTHDAY  171 

At  the  best,  winter  quarters  were  not  especially  attractive, 
but  our  men  were  getting  all  the  possible  good  out  of  them. 
The  22d  of  the  month,  the  day  rendered  sacred  by  its  asso 
ciations  with  the  man  who,  in  his  younger  days,  had  rambled 
over  these  very  hills  and  plains,  was  allowed  to  pass  without 
particular  recognition.  Snow  fell  in  abundance  and  the  wind 
blew  a  gale.  Snow  drifted  in  and  about  the  camp  shanties 
exactly  as  it  would  do  at  home  and,  the  day  being  Sunday, 
all  were  content  to  let  it  pass  in  quiet.  As  a  matter  of  fact, 
it  is  probable  that  not  one  man  in  ten  realized  that  Washing 
ton's  spirit  was  abroad  on  this  stormy  day,  until,  about  noon, 
a  heavy  cannonading  began  on  the  Union  right  and,  soon  after, 
the  Rebels  began  also.  Were  the  hostilities  of  two  months 
ago  to  be  resumed?  If  so,  where  was  the  long  roll,  where  the 
orders  to  fall  in  with  the  utmost  speed?  Luckily  some  men 
with  their  wits  about  them  counted  the  discharges  and  the 
result  was  thirty-four  for  the  Union  side,  thirteen  for  the 
Confederate  and  the  boys  were  ready  to  stand  at  attention 
and  to  salute,  in  behalf  of  the  Father  of  his  Country.  It  was 
a  strange  phase  of  the  strife  in  such  deadly  progress,  that  both 
sides  should  salute  a  common  memory.  The  enemy,  however, 
could  not  recognize  thirty-four  states  in  the  Union,  so  fell 
back  on  the  old  original  thirteen.  Possibly,  had  the  way 
been  open,  some  of  these  young  men  on  reverence  bent  would 
have  visited  the  tomb  of  Washington's  mother  to  moralize 
on  the  fratricidal  struggle  now  prevailing. 

Notwithstanding  all  the  rigors  of  the  winter  and  the  con 
stant  exposures,  the  health  of  the  Army  was  comparatively 
good;  perhaps  the  nearness  of  the  base  of  supplies  and  the 
consequent  regularity  of  food  may  have  had  its  part  in  the 
result,  for  nothing  contributes  more  to  health  than  regular 
and  proper  rations;  well  supplied  thus,  a  deal  of  exaction  in 
other  directions  can  be  withstood.  The  boys  would  have  been 
glad  if  the  wood  or  fuel  supply  had  been  nearer,  since  the  same 
had  to  be  backed  fully  half  a  mile  and  they  thought  it  required 
a  deal  of  it  to  maintain  their  fires.  For  the  24th  this  entry 
is  found,  "It  snows  today  and  it  is  quite  cold.  It  is  about  all 


172  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

we  can  do  to  keep  warm.  For  fuel,  we  have  cut  down  some 
black  walnuts  here  that  would  be  worth  a  pile  of  money  up 
North."  What  a  characteristic  Yankee  remark!  The  native 
New  Englander  seldom  fails  to  realize  what  extravagance  is, 
though  he  may  not  always  practice  economy.  On  the  last 
day  of  the  month,  the  Regiment  was  mustered  for  pay  by 
Col.  Horatio  Rogers,  Jr.,  the  new  Commander  of  the  Second 
Rhode  Island  Regiment. 

The  month  of  March  began  with  a  continuation  of  the  rather 
severe  weather  of  February,  with  a  regular  recurrence  of 
fatigue  and  guard  duty.  The  4th  day  brought  the  first  product 
of  the  new  baker's  ovens  in  the  shape  of  fresh  bread,  reminding 
every  home-loving  boy  of  what  he  was  wont  to  get  in  former 
days.  These  soldiers,  intent  on  preserving  the  Union,  knew 
when  the  baking  was  begun  and  thought  it  extremely  slow  in 
its  progress,  so  hungry  were  they  for  the  outcome.  One 
enthusiast  proclaimed  the  living  better  than  it  had  been  since 
leaving  Brightwood.  Again  on  the  6th  came  reminders  from 
home  in  the  shape  of  three  express  loads  of  boxes  and  pack 
ages,  reaching  camp  by  way  of  Aquia  Creek  and  the  army 
transportation  thence.  Goodies  that  were  well  packed,  came 
through  all  right,  those  in  air  tight  parcels  best,  and  if  the 
box  had  not  been  too  long  on  the  road,  it  made  good  not  only 
the  heart  but  the  stomach  of  the  recipient.  The  next  day 
the  Regiment  came  back  to  real  army  life  in  having  to  go 
on  picket  with  their  opposite  watchers  as  cheerful  and  sociable 
as  usual.  Some  of  the  boys  found  the  Fifth  Louisiana  oppo 
site  and  the  lads  in  gray  proclaimed  themselves  sick  and  tired 
of  the  war.  Just  what  our  own  men  said  is  not  recorded. 

Evidently  something  was  in  the  air,  for  orders  were  received 
on  the  llth  to  be  ready  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice.  On 
that  day  one  of  the  Tenth's  men  went  over  to  the  Second 
Corps  to  visit  a  friend  and  he  found  the  mud  so  deep  that  it 
took  him  all  day  to  walk  the  four  miles  there  and  back.  Col. 
Wm.  H.  Browne,  36th  New  York,  conducted  a  brigade  review 
on  the  13th,  while  the  14th  was  notable  in  that  Brigade 
Inspector  General  Reed  inspected  thoroughly.  Rations  of 


MAR.  17- APRIL  8,  '63  FALMOUTH  173 

hard-tack  also  had  a  forward  movement  look.  Capt.  George 
Pierce  of  Company  G,  whose  papers  did  not  appear  when 
those  of  his  associates  were  sent  in  December,  having  been 
found  among  other  items  in  General  Franklin's  files  and 
forwarded,  went  home  that  day.  Edmund  Bigelow  of  Spring 
field  came  as  a  visitor  and  saw  real  camp  life.  St.  Patrick's 
Day,  or  the  17th,  had  its  peculiar  feature  in  that  three  drills 
a  day  were  ordered,  viz,  Company,  7.30  to  8.30  a.  m.,  and  from 
10.30  a.  m.  to  noon;  Battalion  from  2.00  to  4.00  p.  m.,  and 
the  spirit  of  preparation  was  apparent.  The  next  day  the 
earlier  company  drill  was  omitted  that  the  men  might  have 
time  to  get  wood.  It  was  on  this  same  17th  of  March  that  the 
opening  shot  of  the  Spring  campaign  was  fired  at  Kelly's 
Ford  where  Averill  and  his  cavalry  engaged  the  Confederates 
under  Fitz  Hugh  Lee.  General  Newton,  Division  Commander, 
reviewed  the  Brigade  on  the  24th.  Captain  Barton  returned 
to  duty  the  25th,  and  the  month,  true  to  its  traditions,  went 
out  in  a  snow  storm. 

April  began  with  Company  I  at  the  right  of  the  regimental 
line  since  Captain  Barton,  then  in  command,  was  the  senior 
officer  of  that  rank  in  the  Regiment.  Corps  Commander 
General  Sedgwick  reviewed  the  division  on  the  2d  (Fast  Day 
at  home)  and  the  following  day,  General  Hooker  himself 
reviewed,  riding  his  splendid  gray  horse,  every  inch  the  soldier » 
accompanied  by  a  large  retinue  of  officers  of  all  grades  of  rank 
and  merit.  Five  inches  of  snow  fell  on  the  5th  and  men  from 
Berkshire  expressed  their  opinions  of  weather  in  the  "Sunny 
South,''  though  in  the  intervals  between  storms  the  boys 
found  time  and  place  for  playing  ball.  Every  annalist  of  the 
Tenth  wrote  in  his  entry  for  the  8th,  "  Reviewed  by  Lincoln." 
The  President  in  his  desire  to  see  for  himself  the  result  of  the 
change  in  commanders  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  with  his 
wife  and  younger  sons,  had  come  down  to  Falmouth  and  on 
that  day  saw  what  Hooker  had  denominated  "the  finest 
army  on  the  planet."  Over  100,000  men  in  any  form  is  a 
magnificent  sight,  but  massed  in  close  array  the  impression  on 
the  President  and  his  friends  must  have  been  awe-inspiring. 


174  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

One  observer  has  left  this  excellent  pen-picture  of  the  scene : 

When  all  were  ready,  the  President  and  suite,  with  General 
Hooker  and  staff,  took  position  on  an  elevated  piece  of  ground, 
and  the  mighty  host  began  to  file  in  review  before  and  past 
them.  On  and  on  came  the  grand  cavalcade,  by  companies, 
by  regiments,  brigades,  divisions  and  corps,  each  headed  by 
its  respective  commander.  Whence  came  all  these  men? 
Whence  are  they  fed,  clothed  and  armed  in  this  barren  place? 
Surely  the  resources  of  our  glorious  country  must  be  inex 
haustible. 

No  one  had  occasion  to  ask,  "Which  is  Lincoln?"  His 
careworn  face  proclaimed  his  identity  at  once.  Said  one  of 
the  men,  "He  looks  as  though  he  was  having  a  hard  time, 
poor  man."  He  had  aged  measurably  since  we  saw  him  last, 
viz,  at  Downsville.  His  sons,  Will  and  Tad,  as  well  as  his 
wife  and  other  ladies,  accompanied  him.  The  sight  of  well 
dressed  women  from  the  home-land  was  a  source  of  special 
pleasure  to  these  men,  so  far  from  the  lights  of  their  own 
households.  It  was  the  popular  opinion  that  General  Hooker 
had  done  wonders  in  improving  the  appearance  and  spirits  of 
the  men,  and  the  future,  with  all  its  probabilities,  was  faced 
with  courage  and  bright  expectations. 

Nor  did  the  coming  of  dignitaries  and  ladies  cease  on  the 
8th,  since  the  day  after  introduced  Generals  Sedgwick,  Newton, 
Devens,  Frank  Wheat  on,  R.  B.  Ay  res,  and  the  wife  of  General 
Newton,  all  of  whom  paid  the  camp  a  visit.  On  the  10th 
there  was  a  regimental  muster  that  the  Adjutant  General  of 
Massachusetts  might  have  data  on  which  to  prepare  for 
filling  up  the  organizations  with  recruits.  A  balloon  under 
the  care  of  Lieutenant  Kaulbach  of  the  Tenth,  with  a  large 
detachment  of  men,  also  from  the  Regiment,  was  stationed 
near  and  frequent  ascents  were  made  by  skilled  aeronauts. 
R.  W.  Bowles,  one  of  the  Springfield  boys  in  the  Tenth,  and  a 
regular  correspondent  of  the  Republican,  having  made  an 
ascension,  thus  glowingly  describes  his  sensations: 

Tuesday  my  desire  to  go  up  was  gratified,  and  I  was  sent 
a  thousand  feet  towards  heaven  in  a  basket,  to  my  inex 
pressible  delight.  It  was  a  clear,  cloudless  day,  and  from  that 


APRIL  11,  '63  ON  PICKET  175 

height  I  could  see  a  landscape  of  a  radius  of  more  than  thirty 
miles.  It  was  beautiful,  grand,  sublime,  far  exceeding  any 
thing  I  had  ever  witnessed  before.  I  looked  down  upon  two 
contending  armies,  upon  Fredericksburg  and  Falmouth,  the 
winding  Rappahannock  and  the  historic  Potomac,  and  upon 
the  white-winged  craft  upon  this  watery  highway.  The  earth 
looked  like  an  immense  carpet,  with  its  many-hued  figures; 
the  bright  green  of  the  springing  grain,  and  the  dark,  seared 
look  of  the  oak  forests;  the  deep,  rich  green  of  the  moist 
meadows,  and  the  cold,  gray  land  from  which  corn  and  wheat 
had  been  gathered,  the  pine  groves  and  bustling  camps; 
forming  a  picture  never  to  be  forgotten.  I  looked  down  upon 
rich  and  extensive  plantations,  where  the  oppressed  negro 
had  labored  and  suffered  to  provide  means  for  the  tyrannizing 
white  man  to  live  in  lazy  luxury,  now  deserted,  the  fences 
gone,  the  buildings  and  shade  trees  long  since  destroyed,  to 
furnish  a  brief  comfort  for  weary  soldiers;  the  negroes  all 
gone,  and  the  few  remaining  whites  compelled  to  do  their 
own  work,  poor  things.  They  complain  of  the  presence  of  the 
army  preventing  them  from  "making  any  bread  this  year." 
They  never  raise  or  grow  anything  here;  they  always  "make 
it." 

April  llth  there  was  a  battalion  drill  in  the  afternoon  and, 
later,  a  review  by  an  officer  from  some  foreign  army,  Newell 
says  "Swiss,"  another  observer  writes  "Swede"  and  still 
another  makes  the  officer  an  Englishman.  Once  more,  on 
the  12th,  the  entire  Regiment  essayed  the  picket  line  on  the 
banks  of  the  Rappahannock  and  accustomed  amenities  were 
resumed.  The  foe  opposite  was  the  Thirty-First  Georgia  and 
through  its  members  late  southern  papers  were  obtained. 
Sargent  of  Company  K  writes,  "Last  night  two  of  the  enemy 
tried  to  swim  across  the  river;  one  of  them  succeeded,  the 
other  was  drowned.  The  one  who  escaped  said  his  comrade 
had  $100  dollars  in  gold  in  his  pocket."  While  the  men  did 
not  know  it,  the  Spring  campaign  was  beginning.  The 
hospitals  had  been  rid  of  all  men  able  to  return  to  service, 
necessities  had  been  distributed,  at  the  same  time  all  surplus 
age  had  been  eliminated  and,  on  the  13th,  Stoneman  started 
northward  with  10,000  cavalry  to  cross  the  upper  waters  of 
the  Rappahannock  and  so  turn  back,  when  reached,  the 


176  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

enemy's  left.  Hooker  had  above  100,000  men,  not  counting 
his  cavalry  which  he  vowed  to  make  a  more  effective  part 
of  the  service  than  it  had  been  in  the  past,  his  question,  "Who 
ever  saw  a  dead  cavalryman?"  expressing,  to  some  extent, 
the  condition  in  which  he  thought  he  found  that  branch  of 
the  army.  He  expected  Stoneman  to  reach  round  the  Rebels 
and  coming  upon  their  line  of  supplies  from  Richmond  to 
destroy  the  same  and,  with  his  own  main  force,  crossing  at 
Kelly's  Ford,  to  overcome  and  possibly  capture  the  entire 
force  of  Lee  which  was  less  in  numbers  than  his  own  by  nearly 
40,000  men.  Doubleday  says  his  plans  ought  to  have  suc 
ceeded,  but  the  Commander  had  forgotten  to  reckon  with  the 
elements,  for  scarcely  had  Stoneman  started  when  the  rain 
began  to  fall  and  it  came  in  the  usual  torrents  known  only 
to  regions  southwards. 

The  Tenth  received  orders,  on  the  14th,  to  be  ready  to 
advance  on  the  following  day  with  eight  days'  rations  in  knap 
sack  and  haversack  and  with  twenty  extra  rounds  of  cart 
ridges.  Up  to  this  time  the  weather  had  been  fine,  the  roads 
seemed  settled  and  the  men  were  pronounced  in  their  admira 
tion  for  the  new  Commander.  But  on  the  15th  the  windows 
of  heaven  were  opened  and  the  floods  descended.  Our  Regi 
ment  was  just  coming  off  picket  and  the  men  received  a  wet 
ting,  second  to  none  in  their  lives.  From  one  o'clock  in  the 
morning  until  late  at  night,  the  rain  continued  to  fall  and 
the  ensuing  mud  warned  Hooker  to  suspend  his  movement 
till  dryer  times.  The  late  tour  of  duty  on  picket  was  near  or 
on  the  old  Washington  farm,  then  held  by  the  Fitz  Hughs, 
all  of  whom  except  the  wife,  two  daughters,  and  an  eighteen- 
year  old  son  were  in  the  South,  two  sons  in  the  army.  They 
claimed  to  have  inherited  the  plantation  from  General  Wash 
ington.  Our  Massachusetts  men  were  interested  in  learning 
that  the  apple  orchard  on  the  place  was  from  a  Boston 
nursery  and  a  northern  piano  was  a  source  of  music  in  the 
parlor.  On  that  day  Colonel  Eustis  returned  from  a  short 
furlough  and  to  Company  G  came  a  present  of  twenty-five 
dollars  from  the  Christian  Association  of  Greenfield,  an 


APRIL  '63 


BASEBALL 


177 


opportune   gift   for   men  who   were   six   months   away  from 
pay    day. 

In  the  midst  of  so  much  warlike  preparation  it  was  a  relief 
to  find  the  bovs  of  the  Tenth  and  those  of  the  36th  New  York 


Capt.  E.  Smart,  Capt.  H.  C.  Lombard,      Capt.  L.  B.  Walkley, 

Lieut.  L.  O.  Eaton,  Capt.  J.  K.  Newell,         Lieut.  D.  M.  Chase, 

Lieut.  J.  Knox,  Lieut.  L.  M.  Remington,   Sergt.  J.  W.  Currier. 

(From  wood  cut  in  Newell's  History.) 

playing  a  game  of  baseball  and  all  must  have  quit  good 
natured,  since  the  game  itself  was  a  draw.  Gen.  Charles 
Devens,  who  had  so  long  commanded  the  brigade,  had  been 
ordered  to  the  command  of  the  First  Division  in  the  Eleventh 
Corps,  and  under  the  command  of  Gen.  O.  O.  Howard,  and 


178  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

on  the  morning  of  the  21st,  though  cold  and  raw,  the  entire 
brigade  was  paraded  to  pay  parting  honors  to  the  retiring 
commander.  The  line  was  formed  on  a  sloping  hillside  and 
the  General  was  received  with  loud  acclaim  as  he  rode  upon 
the  field.  The  parade  was  faultless,  the  field  officers  coming 
to  the  front  were  cordially  greeted  and,  through  them,  parting 
words  were  expressed  for  the  several  regiments.  He  then 
addressed  them  in  eloquent  words,  expressive  of  his  regret 
at  leaving  his  old  command  with  which  he  had  been  connected 
very  nearly  a  year,  commending  the  bravery  of  the  men  on 
every  field  from  Williamsburg  to  Fredericksburg.  Comment 
was  made  on  the  serious  changes  among  the  field  officers  in 
the  brigade,  only  Major  F.  P.  Harlow  of  the  Seventh  Massa 
chusetts  remaining  of  those  whom  he  met  when  he  assumed 
command.  He  paid  a  tribute  to  the  brave  men  who  had 
fallen  in  battle,  mentioning  specially  Major  Miller  of  the 
Tenth,  who  had  so  covered  himself  with  glory  at  Fair  Oaks 
and  Malvern.  His  concluding  words  were  full  of  patriotic 
fervor,  uttered  as  only  General  Devens  could  speak,  and  his 
hearers  shouted  themselves  hoarse  in  their  approval  of  his 
sentiments.  These  final  words  were : 

Comrades,  we  are  fighting  for  constitutional  liberty;  we  are 
struggling  to  prove  that  man  is  capable  of  self-government; 
to  show  to  the  nations  that  a  free  government  can  be  good, 
powerful,  enduring — capable  of  sustaining  itself  and  succoring 
the  oppressed  of  all  peoples.  For  this,  our  fellow  soldiers 
have  died.  For  this,  so  many  brave  men  who  were  with  us 
one  year  ago  are  now  sleeping  in  the  cold  earth.  Shall  we  be 
less  patriotic  than  they?  Shall  we  be  less  brave,  less  devot 
ed  to  our  country?  No!  let  us  show  that  we  who  survive,  love 
our  country  as  devotedly,  and  are  as  ready  to  serve  her  as 
those  who  have  shed  their  blood  for  her,  and  that  when  it 
may  be  necessary,  we  too,  are  ready  to  lay  down  our  lives  in 
her  cause. 

And  now  my  dear  comrades,  I  must  say  Farewell!  May 
God  bless  you.  Whoever  may  command  you  will  find  you 
one  of  the  best  if  not  the  best  brigade  in  the  service,  and  I 
believe  wherever  you  go,  or  whoever  may  lead  you,  you  will 
do  your  duty  well,  and  cover  yourselves  with  glory  and  honor. 
Farewell !  Farewell ! 


APRIL  27,  '63  CHANCELLORSVILLE  179 

Before  leaving  his  quarters,  the  line  officers  of  the  Tenth 
took  leave  of  him  in  person  and  the  regimental  field  officers 
accompanied  him  as  far  as  General  Hooker's  headquarters 
on  his  way  to  his  new  position.  There  was  an  inspection  that 
day  and  another  issue  of  eight  days'  rations,  a  rather  burden 
some  outfit,  much  larger  than  had  been  the  custom.  The 
paymaster  at  last  made  his  appearance  on  the  24th  and  was 
smilingly  received,  even  though  several  months  wages  did 
not  make  a  very  large  sum  for  each  individual. 

CHANCELLORSVILLE 

April  27th  brought  the  orders  which  proved  to  be  effectual, 
to  be  ready  to  march  in  the  morning;  the  famous  campaign 
of  Chancellorsville  was  about  to  begin.  The  28th  dawned 
bright  and  clear  and  the  starting  would  have  been  happy 
had  it  been  made  then,  but  for  some  reason  there  was  a  delay 
until  3.00  p.  m.,  when  the  rain  had  begun  to  fall,  though  we 
fell  in  and  proceeded  just  the  same;  indeed  to  march  in  any 
ordinary  rain  seemed  to  be  quite  the  thing  with  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac.  Five  o'clock  brought  us  to  a  sheltered 
ravine  about  one  mile  from  the  river's  bank.  Here  the  tents 
went  up  and  we  camped  for  the  night,  hidden  from  the  sight 
of  the  foe;  others  of  our  army  were  passing  all  night.  The 
reveille  for  the  29th  was  the  sound  of  musketry  and  artillery 
near  the  river  where  Russell's  Brigade  of  the  First  Division 
was  forcing  a  crossing.  Men  had  been  busy  all  the  night  carry 
ing  pontoons  on  their  shoulders  to  the  river  and  launching 
them  in  the  stream.  This  had  been  done  so  quietly  that  not 
even  the  pickets  of  the  enemy  knew  what  was  coming  till  in 
the  dim  morning's  light  they  saw  the  boats  bearing  Russell's 
men  approaching.  They  could  scarcely  fire  a  few  volleys 
before  they  were  effectually  scattered  by  some  charges  of 
cannister  thrown  among  them  by  a  battery  on  the  Union  side 
of  the  river.  A  number  of  prisoners  were  taken,  including  the 
officer  of  the  picket  guard,  and  a  few  were  wounded  among 
our  men. 

We  began  to  wonder  if  the  days  of  middle  December  were 


180  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

to  be  lived  over  again,  for  the  bridge  was  just  where  Franklin's 
bridge  had  been  and  the  point  was  known  as  Franklin's 
Crossing.  Subsequently  we  learned  that  this  movement  was 
a  part  of  Hooker's  strategy,  endeavoring  to  make  the  enemy 
believe  that  his  real  objective  was  here,  while  his  true  purpose 
was  to  fight  much  further  to  the  right.  It  also  appeared  that 
this  part  of  his  plan  succeeded  since  Stonewall  Jackson,  well 
supported,  was  placed  on  the  Confederate  right  to  withstand 
the  expected  attack.  Cannonading  began  at  7.00  a.  m.  at 
our  left,  near  Dr.  Morrison's  house.  The  Second  Brigade  was 
ordered  in  that  direction  and  we  moved  down  a  ravine  lead 
ing  to  the  river.  On  reaching  the  plain,  we  took  position  in  a 
sunken  road,  whose  sides,  several  feet  high,  formed  excellent 
breastworks  and  here  we  remained  several  hours,  having  in 
view  a  battery  at  our  left  which  was  shelling  a  range  of 
rifle  pits  opposite.  The  hostile  occupants  were  making  it 
hot  for  our  pontoniers,  who  were  trying  to  lay  a  bridge  at 
that  point.  The  bridge  itself  was  known  as  the  lower  bridge, 
to  distinguish  it  from  the  first  one  laid  which  was  near  the 
Bernard  house. 

As  an  accompaniment  to  this  action  of  the  First,  Third 
and  Sixth  Corps,  a  statement  should  be  made  of  what  the 
other  part  of  the  grand  army  was  doing.  On  the  morning  of 
Monday,  the  27th,  the  Fifth,  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corps 
had  marched  to  the  northward,  reaching  the  vicinity  of 
Kelly's  Ford  on  the  Rappahannock  on  the  following  day,  and 
during  the  night  of  the  28th  and  early  on  the  29th,  effected 
its  crossing  on  a  bridge  of  canvas  pontoons,  the  river  being 
too  high  for  fording.  The  three  corps  then  proceeded  towards 
Chancellorsville  on  two  parallel  roads.  The  right  column 
(Eleventh  and  Twelfth)  struck  the  Rapidan  at  Germanna 
Ford,  the  left  column  (Fifth  Corps)  at  Ely's.  The  stream 
was  barely  fordable,  but  it  was  immediately  resolved  to  cross 
by  wading,  and  in  the  men  went,  though  the  most  of  them 
were  naked,  their  armament  and  clothing  being  held  aloft 
on  their  bayonets'  points,  the  water  reaching  the  shoulders 
of  the  average  man.  It  was  a  hilarious  scene  as  these  Adamic 


APRIL  30,  '63  FREDERICKSBITRG  181 

clad  soldiers  took  their  first  bath  of  the  Spring.  Those  who 
were  carried  away  by  the  swift  waters  were  rescued  by  a 
cavalry  picket,  stationed  some  distance  below.  The  army 
then  headed  towards  Chancellorsville  reaching  the  same  in 
the  afternoon  of  the  30th.  Meanwhile  the  Second  Corps, 
under  General  Couch,  had  marched  to  United  States  Ford, 
where  he  was  to  remain  until  the  advanced  corps  had  crossed 
and  moved  down  the  other  side  of  the  river.  As  soon  as 
Meade,  Howard  and  Slocum  were  across  the  Rapidan,  pon 
toons  were  laid  over  the  Rappahannock  and  the  Second  Corps 
was  speedily  marched  across,  so  that  at  night,  April  30th, 
the  four  corps  were  all  encamped  at  Chancellorsville,  to  which 
place,  that  very  night,  Hooker  moved  his  headquarters. 
Thus  far  everything  had  gone  well  with  the  General's  plans y 
since  he  was  now,  with  50,000  well  armed  men,  in  a  position 
to  take  in  reverse  the  entire  fortified  line  of  Lee. 

Returning  to  the  corps  stationed  below  Fredericksburg,  we 
find  two  more  pontoon  bridges  laid,  some  distance  further 
down  the  stream,  for  the  convenience  of  the  First  Corps,  over 
which  Wadsworth's  Division  of  that  Corps  had  passed,  while 
Brooks's  of  the  Sixth  also  crossed  early  on  the  29th.  The 
cloudy,  misty  weather  completely  hid  the  Confederates'  posi 
tion  until  9.15  a.  m.,  when,  the  mist  lifting  for  about  thirty 
minutes,  firing  began  from  our  batteries  on  the  left.  Then  the 
mist  intervened  again,  when  the  enemy  opened  from  a  six-gun 
battery  on  the  hill,  opposite  Dr.  Morrison's,  directing  its  shot 
at  the  troops  which  had  crossed.  While  pickets  were  posted 
and  an  aggressive  disposition  was  intimated,  there  was  no 
further  crossing,  and  the  Federal  forces,  on  the  other  side, 
made  no  effort  to  conceal  their  camp  fires  which  were  within 
three  hundred  yards  of  the  foe,  who  were  busy  intrenching, 
evidently  expecting  an  attack  in  force.  At  six  in  the  after 
noon  orders  were  received  to  get  all  the  rest  possible,  an 
intimation  that  work  was  impending  on  the  morrow. 

The  last  day  of  April  ushered  in  great  activity  on  the  part 
of  the  men  opposite  Fredericksburg.  Thinking  his  feint  so 
thoroughly  successful,  Hooker  had  ordered  Sickles  and  his 


182  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Third  Corps,  having  constituted  a  reserve  during  the  ma 
noeuvres  on  the  left,  to  march  to  a  juncture  with  the  four 
corps  already  on  the  right.  At  4.00  a.  m.  we  were  ordered 
to  pack  our  knapsacks  and  to  be  ready  to  march  in  three- 
quarters  of  an  hour,  though  it  was  noon  before  we  started  and 
then  only  to  move  a  few  rods,  when  we  halted.  To  our 
relief  the  weather  cleared  up  and  we  could  distinctly  see  the 
Rebels  swarming  about  their  redoubts  and  rifle  pits  on  the 
heights  above  the  plain.  The  pickets  of  the  opposing  forces 
were  only  a  few  hundred  yards  apart  and  were  lying  flat  on 
the  ground.  It  was  during  these  hours  that  the  remarkable 
order  of  General  Hooker  was  read  before  the  troops,  massed 
by  brigades,  to  the  effect  that  the  enemy  must  come  out  from 
behind  his  defenses  or  ingloriously  fly.  The  message  was 
received  with  vociferous  applause,  though  some  of  the  older 
troops,  like  our  own  Regiment,  grown  used  to  flamboyant 
orders,  did  not  lead  in  the  cheering.  When,  a  few  days  later, 
the  army  was  racing  for  its  life,  the  favorite  salutation  was, 
"How's  your  inglorious  fly?"  While  there  was  cannonading 
later  in  the  day  there  was  no  further  action  on  the  part  of 
the  Sixth  Corps. 

It  was  not  such  a  May  Day  as  the  poet  describes  to  which 
our  soldiers,  in  this  part  of  Virginia,  were  introduced  the  next 
morning.  While  the  real  battle  was  not  on,  its  premonitory 
rumbles  were  more  alarming  than  some  engagements  whose 
story  has  filled  whole  pages  of  history.  True  to  his  instruc 
tions  to  engage  the  attention  of  the  enemy,  Sedgwick  was  still 
keeping  just  enough  of  his  men  across  the  river  to  make  Lee 
believe  that  the  rest  would  follow  soon  and,  at  the  same  time, 
he  was  so  nearly  foot  free  that  he  could  up  bridges  and  march 
to  the  right  in  a  very  few  moments.  To  make  the  ruse  more 
complete  troops  were  marched  and  countermarched  in  such 
a  manner  that,  to  the  observing  Confederates,  it  appeared 
that  an  attack  was  imminent  and  heavy  masses  of  his  force 
were  concentrated  near  where  the  onslaught  might  be  expected. 
While  thus  in  battle  line,  one  of  our  bands  near  the  skirmish 


MAY  2,  '63  FREDERICKSBURG  183 

line  struck  up  "Dixie"  and  the  enemy,  catching  the  strain, 
answered  with  defiant  yells,  to  which  our  men  responded 
in  even  louder  tones,  clearly  a  windy  contest,  with  honors, 
such  as  they  were,  on  our  side.  All  these  hours  the  thunders 
of  Hooker's  guns  on  the  right  had  shaken  the  ground  as  if 
by  earthquake  shocks. 

On  the  morning  of  Saturday,  the  2d,  the  First  Corps  was 
ordered  to  withdraw  from  its  position,  its  bridges  were  taken 
up  and  it  moved  up  the  river  to  join  the  main  army  on  the 
right.  Thus  the  Sixth  Corps  was  left  alone  to  maintain  the 
Union  left,  except  for  Gibbon's  (First)  Division  of  the  Second 
Corps,  whose  camp  was  too  plainly  seen  by  the  enemy  to 
warrant  its  disturbance.  The  main  battle  of  Chancel- 
lorsville  was  raging  ten  miles  away  and,  however  absorbing 
its  details  might  be,  the  story  of  the  Tenth  Regiment  is  found 
in  the  incidents  of  the  day,  much  nearer  Fredericksburg. 
The  ball  opened  in  our  vicinity  with  an  artillery  duel,  not 
particularly  effective,  though  it  was  very  noisy.  Two  regi 
ments  of  our  brigade  were  still  on  the  plain,  near  the  river, 
while  the  Tenth  and  the  36th  New  York  were  behind  a  hill» 
a  short  distance  from  the  previous  night's  stopping  place* 
After  10.00  a.  m.  a  feint  was  made  towards  crossing  the  river, 
but  all  returned  to  the  cover  of  the  hill,  except  the  Second 
Rhode  Island.  At  noon  we  came  back  to  our  first  position 
where  we  continued  all  the  afternoon,  or  until  seven  o'clock, 
when  we  were  again  ordered  forward.  At  this  time  our  skir 
mishers  across  the  river  began  firing,  those  of  the  enemy 
falling  back  as  ours  advanced.  Eight  o'clock  found  us  on 
the  plain,  near  the  crossing,  and  at  half  past  nine  we  crossed 
on  the  lower  pontoon  bridge  at  Franklin's  Crossing  and 
formed  line  on  the  opposite  bank.  After  a  few  moments' 
rest  we  were  added  to  the  line  already  formed  and  extending 
across  the  plain.  Now  our  advance  changed  from  one  in  line 
to  that  by  the  right  flank  and,  on  the  Bowling  Green  Road, 
the  column  marched  towards  Fredericksburg  which  was 
reached  at  davbreak.  Newell's  account  of  Mav  3d  follows: 


184  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

SALEM  HEIGHTS  OR  CHURCH 

Our  entry  into  the  city  was  sharply  contested  by  the  enemy's 
skirmishers,  but  we  reached  the  railway  depot  without  any 
considerable  loss.     As  soon  as  the  enemy  discovered  us,  they 
opened  upon  us  with  shell  from  a  battery,  and  sharpshooters 
from  the  rifle  pits.     A  charge  was  made  upon  these  works 
by  the  Light  Division,*  but  it  was  repulsed.     In  the  meantime 
our  forces  which  remained  on  the  plain  were  vigorously  attacked 
and  driven  towards  the  crossing,  but  quickly  recovered  the 
ground.     A  terrible  cannonading  continued  the  whole  time 
from  the  heights  above  the  plain  and  the  city.     Our  batteries 
took  a  position  under  the  guns  of  the  enemy's  works  above 
the  city.     Heavy  firing  commenced  far  on  our  right  towards 
Chancellorsville,  and  was  kept  up  during  the  day.    At  quarter 
to  eight   in  the  morning,  the  Tenth,  together  with  a  brigade 
of  the  Second  Corps  was  ordered  to  our  right,  to  draw  the 
attention  of  the  enemy  from  the  real  point  of  attack.    Marched 
nearly  a  mile  under  a  withering  fire  of  shell  from  two  brass  how 
itzers  on  the  hill,  some  eight  hundred  yards  distant,  and  posted 
in  such  apositionthat  they  could  not  be  silenced  by  our  batteries. 
It  was  the  most  trying  ordeal  since  Malvern  Hill,  and  nearly 
every  company  in  the  brigade  lost  more  or  less  men  during 
the  movement.     The  Tenth  suffered  to  the  extent  of  sixteen 
brave  men  killed  and  severely  wounded.     At  last  obtained 
the  cover  of  a  stone  wall  on  the  river  bank,  which  screened 
us  from  the  fire  of  the  battery,  and  enabled  us  to  take  a 
little  rest. 

At  11.00  a.  m.,  a  desperate  charge  was  made  on  the  works  f 
above  the  city,  by  the  Seventh  Massachusetts  and  the  36th 
New  York  of  our  brigade,  in  connection  with  the  Light 
Division,  Col.  Hiram  Burnham  of  the  Sixth  Maine  in  command. 
The  first  charge  of  the  Light  Division  was  repulsed,  but  the 
second,  one  of  the  most  brilliant  on  record,  was  successful, 
and  the  heights  were  carried.  Two  guns  and  many  prisoners 
were  captured.  These  were  the  same  two  guns  that  had 
annoyed  us  so  much  in  the  earlier  part  of  the  day,  and  their 
capture  was  a  source  of  much  gratification,  as  well  as  revenge, 
as  they  were  immediately  turned  upon  the  flying  enemy, 


*An  extra  division,  made  up  of  the  original  First  Brigade,  Second 
Division,  and  one  regiment  each  from  the  First  and  Third  Divisions. 
It  comprised  the  Fifth  Wisconsin,  Sixth  Maine,  31st  and  33d  New 
York  and  the  61st  Pennsylvania. 

t(Marye's  Heights). 


MAY  3,  '63  SALEM  HEIGHTS  185 

and  did  considerable  execution.    In  this  movement  the  Seventh 
Massachusetts    led     the     charging     column,     marching     up 
the    road    by    the     flank,    and     sustaining    terrible     losses, 
in    the    right    companies.       The    meadows    on    both    sides 
of  the  road  were  flooded  with  water,  rendering  the  advance 
difficult  and  hazardous.     The  loss  on  our  side  was  fearful,, 
one  regiment  losing  two  hundred  out  of  five  hundred  men. 
In  the  charge  the  36th  New  York  took  a  most  brilliant  part,, 
led  by  their  gallant  commander,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Walsh. 
They  advanced,  under  a  scathing  fire,  directly  up  to  a  stone 
wall,  without  firing  a  single  shot  in  return.     Colonel  Walsh 
pointed  out  to  the  men  what  they  had  to  do,  and  made  them, 
the    following    characteristic    address:      "Do    ye    see    thim 
heights?    Take  thim,  ye  must,  or  will  ye  die  here,  for  go  back 
ye  shall  not."    To  this  impassioned  speech,  his  men  responded, 
"Lead  us  on,  Paddy,*  lead  us  on."     This  speech,  delivered 
in  his   own  peculiar  native  brogue,   had  the   desired  effect. 
With  steady  tramp,  the  brave  Irishmen  advanced  right  up 
into  the  very  jaws  of  death,  the  shot  and  shell  from  the  heights 
plowing  through  their  ranks,  and  the  infantry  in  the  rifle  pits, 
mowing  them  down  with  every   discharge.      Undaunted  by 
the    murderous    fire,    they    kept    their    line,    moved    steadily 
forward,  and  the  heights,  where  ten  thousand  men  were  lost 
in  an  attempt  to  charge  last   December,  were  carried.     On 
reaching  the  crest,  one  of  the  36th  rushed  to  a  Rebel  artillery 
man  who,  swab  in  hand,  stood  by  the  side  of  his  piece,  and 
seizing  the  swab,  with  it  dealt  the   Reb  a  blow  with  good 
Irish  emphasis.     Colonel  Walsh  was  not  unmindful  of  this 
deed  on  the  part  of  his  man,  who  had  been  "broken"  repeat 
edly  as  a  non-commissioned  officer  for  tarrying  too  long  with 
the   "crater,"   and  in  his  enthusiastic  appreciation  shouted,. 
"Well  done,  well  done;    ye 're  a  sergeant  from  this  out;    I'll 
break  ye  no  more,  whatever  ye  may  do."     A  cheer  from  our 
men  proclaimed  their  triumph,  which  the  enemy  on  our  left, 
mistaking  for  a  cheer  from  their  own  men,   took  up,   and 
another  of  their  indescribable  hideous  howls  resounded  from 
one  end  of  the  line  to  the  other.     As  soon,  however,  as  they 
found  on  which  side  the  advantage  lay,  they  jumped  out  of 
the  rifle  pits  and  fell  back,  followed  by  a  few  shots  from  our 
batteries. 

In  the  meantime  the  Tenth  had  been  withdrawn  from  the 
cover  of  the  stone  wall  and  made  a  quick  march  back  through 


*To  his  men  the  Lieutenant  Colonel  was  known  as  "Paddy  Walsh. " 


186  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

the  city,  when,  turning  to  the  right,  they  commenced  the 
ascent  up  the  hills.  The  heat  was  intense,  and  that,  with  the 
rapid  march,  overpowered  some  of  the  men.  After  a  short 
rest  they  again  moved  in  pursuit  of  the  flying  enemy.  On 
coming  within  range  of  their  batteries,  they  opened  with 
solid  shot,  having  to  appearances  exhausted  their  supply  of 
shell. 

Our  charging  column  advanced  in  two  lines,*  the  Jersey 
Brigade  being  the  first,  and  becoming  engaged  with  the 
enemy  about  an  eighth  of  a  mile  in  advance  of  the  Tenth.  The 
firing  was  now  furious,  and  culminated  in  the  repulse  of  the 
Jersey  men,  who  were  closely  pressed  by  the  Rebels  and 
forced  toward  our  lines.  Back  they  came,  and  the  Tenth 
and  the  balance  of  our  brigade,  that  had  now  deployed  and 
was  under  command  of  Colonel  Browne,  lay  down  that  the 
retreating  men  might  fall  back  over  them,  which  was  quickly 
done,  and  then  the  brigade  rose  up,  advanced  some  ten  rods, 
and  delivered  its  fire  full  in  the  faces  of  the  advancing  enemy, 
flushed  with  a  slight  advantage,  and  following  it  up  with  an 
ardor  and  enthusiasm  worthy  a  better  cause.  When  the  two 
forces  met,  the  space  of  only  a  dooryard  intervened.  Unwill 
ing  to  give  up  their  vantage,  the  Rebels  here  made  a  desperate 
stand,  and  for  a  short  time  the  infantry  firing  was  hot  and 
terrible.  Men  fell  like  grain  cut  by  the  reaper.  Here  Company 
I,  on  the  right  of  the  Tenth,  lost  its  gallant  first  sergeant, 
Pettis,  one  of  the  bravest  of  brave  non-commissioned  officers, 
and  nearly  every  man  on  the  right  was  killed  or  severely 
wounded.  The  right  of  the  Regiment  extended  out  by  the 
fence  (which  partly  covered  the  balance  of  the  Regiment)  and 
suffered  most  severely,  as  the  casualties  will  show.  It  was 
now  about  half-past  four,  and  the  position  of  the  brigade  from 
right  to  left  was  as  follows:  Second  Rhode  Island,  Battery, 
Tenth  Massachusetts,  Seventh  Massachusetts,  37th  Massa 
chusetts,  36th  New  York.  The  contestants  at  one  point  were 
scarcely  fifty  feet  apart.  At  this  juncture  Colonel  Browne, 
commanding  the  brigade,  was  wounded,  and  now  its  command 
devolved  upon  Colonel  Eustis,  who,  partially  changing  the 
direction  of  the  front,  repulsed  the  enemy  and  followed  them 
back  to  the  woods  from  whence  they  came.  The  Tenth  was 
now  under  command  of  Major  Parker,  who  took  his  place 
right  in  front  of  his  Regiment,  and  between  the  fire  of  the  two 
contesting  forces.  "You'll  get  hit,  Major,"  was  called  out  to 


*Here  began  Salem  Heights. 


MAY  3,  '63  SALEM  HEIGHTS  187 

him  several  times  by  his  men,  but  the  Major,  who  was  never 
scared  in  his  life,  only  responded,  "  Fire  away,  boys,  fire  away, 
never  mind  me,"  and  kept  his  place  there  until  the  enemy 
retreated.  The  ammunition  being  now  entirely  exhausted 
and  the  guns  foul  from  constant  firing,  the  Tenth  was  tem 
porarily  relieved  by  the  122d  New  York,  one  of  the  best 


Two  positions  of  the  Tenth  in  the  Battle. 
SALEM  HEIGHTS,  MAY  3,  '63. 

regiments  in  the  service,  whose  gallant  Colonel,  Silas  Titus, 
coming  up,  yelled  out,  "Git  out  o'  here,  you  Tenth  Massa 
chusetts  fellers,  you've  fit  long  enough."  It  was  now  dark 
and  the  action  ceased.  The  troops  rested  on  their  arms  at 
night,  and  guns  were  cleaned  and  a  fresh  stock  of  ammunition 
issued,  as  the  conflict  was  expected  to  be  renewed  at  day 
break.  The  Tenth  again  took  its  place  in  the  front  line,  where 
it  remained  all  night.  Details  attended  to  the  mournful  and 
sad  duties  that  follow  the  shock  of  battle,  caring  for  the 
wounded  and  performing  the  last  rites  and  burial  of  the  dead. 
The  reaper,  Death,  had  been  more  than  busy  today.  Tenderly 
are  the  dear  forms  laid  away  in  the  cold  earth  by  their  com 
rades  and  fellow-soldiers.  Wrapped  in  their  blankets,  generally 
all  from  one  company  are  laid  together,  and  their  resting-place 
marked  rudely  and  roughly,  but  as  well  as  the  circum 
stances  will  allow.  A  soldier  of  Company  I,  twelve  years 
afterward,  says,  "We  felt  so  bad  when  we  laid  Pettis  and 
Boyington  and  Hovey  and  Barry  away,  and  poor  Tony  Cain 
so  soon  to  follow.  I  feel  sad  now  when  I  think  of  it.' 


188  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

In  the  action  just  described,  the  judgment  and  sagacity  of 
Colonel  Eustis  added  materially  to  the  success  of  the  assault 
upon  the  works  above  the  city.  He  posted  batteries  in 
advantageous  positions,  and  disposed  his  infantry  where  they 
would  be  most  effective.  He,  with  his  staff,  Captain  Young, 
Lieutenant  Beverege  and  Adjutant  Brewster,  were  the  last 
to  leave  the  field  when  our  forces  returned  to  the  ford.  The 
following  list  gives  the  casualties: 

Company  A — -Wounded,  Sergeant  Alfred  F.  Couch,  head, 
slight;  Corp.  Patrick  O'Brien,  leg,  severe;  James  Cormick, 
foot,  slight;  George  A.  Barber,  leg,  severe;  Henry  Banker, 
shoulder,  mortally;  Thomas  Pugh,  leg,  severe;  James  Cahill, 
leg,  severe;  Luman  Dennis,  leg,  severe. 

Company  B — Wounded,  John  Wallace,  arm,  severe;  John 
Reilly,  back,  severe;  Francis  Walker,  hand,  severe. 

Company  C — Killed,  Corporal  Constant  E.  Bannerot. 
Wrounded,  Josiah  Thayer,  arm,  mortally. 

Company  D — Killed,  John  Donovan.  Wounded,  First 
Serg.  Michael  Hogan,  both  legs,  mortally;  James  Finnican, 
hand,  severe;  Thomas  G.  Larkin,  leg,  severe;  Jerry  Green, 
hand,  slight;  Charles  Dunbar,  thigh,  severe. 

Company  E — Wounded,  Corp.  James  Wm.  Turner,  ankle, 
slight;  Charles  M.  Hall,  breast  and  side,  mortally;  Edmond 
Dunphy,  jaw,  severe;  Dwight  E.  Bassett,  left  arm,  severe; 
James  Walsh,  leg,  slight. 

Company  F — Killed,  Silas  L.  Putnam.  Wounded,  Lieut. 
Terry  S.  Noble,  hand,  severe;  James  H.  Burbank,  leg,  severe; 
Henry  M.  Chapin,  arm,  slight;  Henry  M.  Jones,  leg,  severe. 

Company  G — Killed,  Corp.  Dwight  E.  Armstrong,  William 
Ryther.  Wounded,  Charles  G.  Blodgett,  leg,  severe;  Oliver 
M.  Keyes,  hand,  slight;  Henry  Dewey,  foot,  severe;  William 
•C.  Marvel,  leg,  severe;  Francis  Williams,  leg,  severe;  William 
H.  Scott,  leg,  severe;  Alpheus  B.  Parker,  face,  slight;  Chris 
topher  Megrath,  neck,  severe. 

Company  H — Killed,  Jacob  Riedel.  Wounded,  Capt.  Flavel 
Shurtleff,  neck,  severe;  Corp.  Otis  B.  Wood,  breast,  severe; 
Charles  F.  Powers,  head,  severe;  John  W.  Hersey,  foot,  slight; 

Company  I — Killed,  First  Serg.  Amos  Pettis,  Jr.,  H.  J. 
Boyington,  Charles  E.  Hovey,  John  Barry.  Wounded,  Sergt. 
Philip  Hyde,  leg,  slight;  Corp.  Charles  F.  Tower,  arm,  severe. 
Corp.  Stephen  W.  Read,  leg,  severe;  Corp.  David  B.  Nye, 
leg,  severe;  James  Livingston,  leg,  slight;  Dwight  O.  Judd, 
thigh,  severe;  Anthony  Cain,  leg,  mortally;  Gustavus  W. 
Peabodv,  arm,  severe;  Charles  L.  Hartwell,  breast,  severe; 


MAY  3,  '63  MARYE'S  HEIGHTS  189 

John  E.  Casey;  Fred  H.  Crockett,  hand,  severe;  Charles 
Decie,  leg,  severe. 

Company  K — Wounded,  Corp.  Charles  L.  Knight,  leg, 
slight;  Corp.  John  Beaumont,  head,  severe;  Anson  J.  Collier, 
arm,  severe;  William  G.  Lay,  leg,  severe;  Henry  C.  Bates, 
thigh,  severe;  James  Dinneen,  thigh,  severe. 

Total— Killed,  10.     Wounded,  56. 

All  the  new  officers  of  the  Regiment  behaved  with  gallantry. 
Two  commissioned  officers  were  hit ;  Captain  Flavel  Shurtleff 
was  dangerously  wounded  by  a  bullet  through  the  neck,  and 
Lieut.  Terry  S^  Noble  had  'his  right  thumb  shot  off.  The 
brave  First  Serg.  Amos  Pettis,  of  Company  I,  was  instantly 
killed  at  the  right  of  his  company,  which,  as  previously  stated, 
held  the  post  of  honor  on  the  right  of  the  Regiment,  and 
suffered  more  than  any  other  company.  During  the  night 
the  enemy  turned  our  left  flank  and  retook  the  heights  which 
commanded  the  city,  leaving  us  in  an  exposed  position,  with 
only  one  avenue  of  escape. 

That  part  of  the  battle  on  the  3d  of  May,  wherein  Marye's 
Heights,  then  commanded  by  Barksdale,  were  assailed  and 
carried,  is  sometimes  referred  to  as  the  Second  Battle  of 
Fredericksburg.  The  general  reader  who  is  well  versed  in 
his  story  of  the  breaking  of  the  ranks  of  the  Eleventh  Corps, 
the  death  of  "Stonewall"  Jackson  and  Keenan's  Charge 
searches  in  vain  for  any  mention  of  the  Sixth  Corps  in  the 
great  battle,  yet  he  says,  "The  Corps  of  the  Greek  cross  won 
imperishable  renown  on  this  day,  but  where?"  If  he  reads 
deeply  enough  and  long  enough  he  will  find  the  reason  for  the 
apparent  omission.  We  have  seen  Sedgwick  and  his  corps 
gradually  deserted  by  the  other  army  corps  until  only  the 
Sixth  and  Gibbon's  Division  of  the  Second  were  left  at  the 
extreme  Union  left  to  maintain  and  advance.  It  is  true  that 
our  Corps  had  no  part  in  the  terrible  events  of  May  2d,  when, 
flanking  Hooker,  Jackson  burst  upon  the  Union  Army  like 
a  tempest  blast,  where  Devens  was  severely  wounded  and 
where  he  is  reported  to  have  said  that  he  would  not  give  his 
old  brigade  for  the  whole  Eleventh  Corps,  nor  yet  with  the 
glorious  death  of  Keenan  when  the  rout  was  stayed,  nor 
indeed  with  any  portion  of  the  death-dealing  deeds  on  the 


190  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Federal  right,  yet  the  part  borne  by  the  Sixth  Corps  on  the 
3d  formed  one  of  the  brightest  pages  in  the  whole  progress 
of  the  war.  Ordered  to  cross  and  recross,  to  advance  and 
attack,  to  form  a  union  with  forces  many  miles  away,  orders 
conflicting  and  even  impossible  of  obeying,  yet  the  grand 
man  at  the  head  of  the  Corps  so  disposed  his  men,  so  fought 
them  and,  eventually,  so  brought  them  out  of  their  dangerous 
situation  that,  to  his  dying  day,  they  wanted  no  more  reliable 
leader  than  the  trusted,  modest,  indefatigable  Sedgwick. 

It  would  be  interesting  to  pause  and  go  with  those  gallant 
men  up  the  steeps  of  Marye,  succeeding  where  Burnside,  at 
such  infinite  cost,  failed;  but,  while  the  Seventh  Massachusetts 
and  the  36th  New  York  of  our  brigade  were  here,  this  was 
not  the  point  where  the  grand  sacrifice  of  the  Tenth  was  made. 
Some  writers  have  said  that  at  this  point  was  won  the  crown 
ing  glory  of  the  Greek  cross  wearers,  but  ive  are  to  pass  along 
to  a  later  hour  in  that  dreadful  day.  While  a  thousand  pris 
oners  were  taken  here  and  those  not  captured  were  fleeing 
and  in  the  wildest  panic,  and  the  plain  to  the  westward  was 
filled  with  disordered  troops,  there  was  not  a  cavalryman  to 
help  on  the  confusion.  The  enemy  was  flying  on  opposite 
roads  and  a  Sheridan  or  a  Kilpatrick  would  have  wrought 
wonders  here.  Our  Third  Division  had  accomplished  much, 
but  wearied  by  the  extreme  heat,  the  burden  of  rations  and 
ammunition,  and  the  loss  of  sleep,  was  allowed  to  rest  a  while 
and  many  were  soon  sound  asleep.  However,  it  was  only  a 
brief  halt,  for  soon  the  First  Division  led  on  and  the  Third 
and  Second  followed. 

Four  miles  away  was  Salem  Church,  a  brick  edifice  placed 
on  a  ridge,  surrounded  by  a  dense  growth  of  woods  and 
undergrowth.  The  many  ravines  leading  down  to  the  river 
rendered  the  pursuit  difficult,  but  at  this  point  the  enemy 
was  reinforced  by  four  fresh  brigades  from  Lee's  forces  in 
front  of  Hooker  and  further  retreat  on  the  Confederate  part 
was  stayed.  Brooks  and  his  First  Division  formed  on  the  left 
of  the  road,  Newton  with  the  Third  Division  on  the  right, 
and  the  fight  at  once  became  severe  and  was  raged  with  vary- 


MAY  4,  '63  SEDGWICK'S  REPORT  191 

ing  success.  The  part  borne  by  the  Tenth  has  been  described 
already ;  the  enemy  pressed  back  the  Union  line  and  held  the 
church,  our  loss  being  above  1,500  men  in  killed  and  wounded. 
All  through  that  long  and  dreary  Sunday,  we  were  expecting 
that  the  sound  of  our  artillery  would  be  the  signal  for  Hooker 
to  attack  and  that  no  help  could  be  sent  from  Lee  to  aid  those 
opposed  to  us,  but  we  listened  in  vain;  our  comrades  at 
Chancellorsville  were  intrenching.  All  that  night  of  the  3d 
the  Sixth  Corps  was  under  arms;  Lee  wras  marching  with  his 
army  to  the  destruction  of  Sedgwick,  leaving  only  Jackson's 
forces  to  oppose  those  of  Hooker.  During  that  night  long  lines 
of  breastworks  were  thrown  up,  Marye's  Heights  were  again 
occupied  and  all  the  successes  of  the  day  were  not  only  lost 
but,  seemingly,  the  Corps  itself  was  at  the  mercy  of  the  foe. 
Describing  the  situation,  General  Sedgwick  in  his  report  of 
the  campaign,  (R.  R.  Series  I,  Vol.  XXV,  Part  I,  p.  560)  says: 

The  following  morning  (4th),  at  an  early  hour,  I  was  in 
formed  that  a  column  of  the  enemy,  15,000  strong,  coming 
from  the  direction  of  Richmond,  had  occupied  the  heights 
of  Fredericksburg,  cutting  off  my  communication  with  the 
town.  Expecting  a  movement  of  this  kind,  I  had  already 
formed  Howre's  Division  in  line  of  battle  to  the  rear.  General 
Howe  promptly  extended  his  left  to  the  river,  and  admirably 
checked  an  effort  of  the  enemy  to  cut  us  off  from  Banks's  Ford, 
where  a  pontoon  bridge  had  been  laid  the  day  previous.  In 
this  affair  he  captured  two  hundred  prisoners  and  a  battle  flag. 

While  these  things  were  occurring  on  my  left,  I  received  a 
dispatch  from  the  major  general  commanding,  informing  me 
that  he  had  contracted  his  lines ;  that  I  must  look  well  to  the 
safety  of  my  corps,  preserve  my  communications  with  Fred 
ericksburg  and  Banks's  Ford,  and  suggesting  that  I  fall  back 
upon  the  former  place,  or  recross,  in  preference,  at  Banks's 
Ford,  where  I  could  communicate  more  readily  with  the 
main  body.  To  fall  back  upon  Fredericksburg  was  out  of  the 
question.  To  adopt  the  other  alternative,  except  under 
cover  of  the  night,  was  equally  so,  for  the  enemy  still  main 
tained  his  position  on  Salem  Heights,  and  was  threatening  my 
flank  and  rear  from  the  direction  of  Fredericksburg.  My 
line  was  formed  with  the  left  resting  on  the  river,  about 
midway  between  Fredericksburg  and  Banks's  Ford,  thence 


192  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

extending  slightly  beyond  the  plank  road,  when  it  turned  at 
right  angles  to  the  right,  following  the  direction  of  the  plank 
road  for  a  mile,  and  then  again  turning  to  the  right  at  right 
angles,  and  recrossing  the  plank  road  in  front  of  Salem  Heights, 
my  right  resting  where  it  had  been  placed  in  the  engagement 
of  the  previous  evening.  A  line  of  battle  of  such  length  was 
necessarily  weak,  yet  to  contract  it  would  inevitably  provoke 
immediate  attack  from  vastly  superior  forces.  *  * 

Thus,  fronting  in  three  directions,  I  was  compelled  to 
await  attack,  determined  to  hold  the  position  until  dark  and 
then  fall  back  on  Banks's  Ford.  A  dispatch  from  the  major 
general  commanding  had  informed  me  that  he  could  not 
relieve  me,  as  he  was  in  a  position  in  which  he  hoped  to  be 
attacked,  and  that  he  was  too  far  away  to  direct  my  opera 
tions.  Subsequent  dispatches  directed  me  to  hold  a  position 
on  the  right  bank  of  the  river  until  the  following  morning. 
During  the  day  there  was  more  or  less  skirmishing  on  the  entire 
front,  and  in  the  evening  a  most  determined  attack  was  made 
upon  Howe's  line,  for  the  purpose  of  cutting  our  communi 
cation  with  the  river,  and  at  the  same  time  Brooks  was 
attacked  further  along  toward  the  right.  The  attack  on 
Brooks  was  readily  repulsed,  chiefly  by  the  skirmish  line  and 
the  firing  by  the  battery  of  McCartney's  (First  Massachusetts) 
Battery.  That  on  Howe  was  of  a  more  determined  character, 
being  made  en  echelon  of  battalions  and  in  columns.  * 

As  soon  at  it  was  dark,  Newton's  and  Brooks's  Divisions, 
with  the  Light  Brigade,  fell  rapidly  back  upon  Banks's  Ford, 
and  took  position  on  the  heights  in  that  neighborhood  and  in 
the  rifle  pits.  When  these  movements  were  completed  Howe 
was  directed  to  fall  back,  and  at  once  abandoned  his  position 
and  moved  to  the  river,  taking  position  on  Newton's  right. 

The  remainder  of  the  report  describes  the  crossing  of  the 
troops  on  the  5th,  beginning  the  movement  at  2.00  a.  m.,  and 
has  commendatory  remarks  concerning  the  officers  and  men 
whom  he  had  led.  In  the  list  of  worthy  leaders  is  the  name  of 
Colonel  Eustis  who  commanded  the  Brigade  after  the  wound 
ing  of  Colonel  Browne  of  the  36th  New  York.  Stevens  in 
his  narrative  of  the  Sixth  Corps  says: 

The  Corps  had  passed  through  a  fearful  ordeal  and  had 
shown  itself  to  be  made  of  heroic  material.  No  two  more 
brilliant  feats  had  been  performed  during  the  war  than  the 
storming  of  the  heights  of  Fredericksburg  and  the  splendid 


MAY  4,  '63  BANK'S  FORD  193 

resistance,  when  surrounded  and  attacked  by  overwhelming 
forces,  the  men  came  out  of  the  fight  not  demoralized,  but  as 
ready  to  scale  those  terrible  heights  again,  if  called  upon,  as 
they  had  been  on  the  3d  of  May. 

General  Sedgwick  had  manifested,  during  the  fights,  those 
masterly  qualities  which  made  him  one  of  the  greatest  soldiers 
of  the  age.  His  conduct  on  the  retreat  was  cool  and  unim- 
passioned.  Personally  examining  every  part  of  the  ground 
in  front  and  rear,  riding  from  one  end  of  the  line  to  the  other, 
now  ordering  a  battery  to  be  placed  at  some  commanding 
point,  and  now  looking  out  a  new  position  to  which  his  troops 
might  fall  back  in  case  of  necessity,  he  was  everywhere 
present,  full  of  energy,  as  determined  to  save  as  he  had  been 
to  win. 

Swinton  summarizes  the  total  losses  in  the  campaign  as 
10,281  for  the  Confederates  and  17,197  killed,  wounded  and 
missing  for  the  Union  forces.  We  left  behind  our  killed  and 
wounded,  fourteen  pieces  of  artillery  and  20,000  stand  of 
arms.  Of  the  conduct  of  Sedgwick,  the  same  writer  remarks, 
"His  brilliant  exploit  in  carrying  the  Fredericksburg  Heights 
and  his  subsequent  fortitude  in  a  trying  situation,  shine  out 
as  the  one  relieving  brightness  amid  the  gloom  of  that  hapless 
battle." 

Returning  to  the  Regiment  on  Monday,  the  4th,  we  find 
Company  K,  Captain  Johnson,  detailed  to  strengthen  the 
picket  line  and  when  the  darkness  covered  the  movement, 
the  retreat  towards  Banks's  Ford  began.  In  two  hours'  time 
the  river  was  reached.  Here  we  covered  the  retreat  of  the 
artillery  while  the  enemy  shelled  us  at  long  range,  doing  very 
little  harm,  however.  Beginning  at  2.00  a.  m.  of  the  5th,  the 
brigade  and  the  rest  of  the  Corps  were  over  in  about  two 
hours,  and  though  harassed  in  crossing,  and  though  occasion 
ally  sought  by  a  hostile  shell,  during  the  day  every  man  felt 
himself  in  a  Quaker  meeting  as  compared  with  the  alarms  of 
the  preceding  forty-eight  hours  and  more.  Our  batteries 
apparently  did  not  think  it  worth  while  to  reply.  Soon  after, 
the  army  returned  to  its  long-time  station  opposite  Freder 
icksburg,  the  Sixth  Corps  being  at  the  left  and  somewhat 
in  the  rear  of  its  former  location  and  here,  for  the  8th,  this 


194  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

record  is  found,  "Moved  into  camp  near  the  one  occupied  all 
winter."  The  next  day  many  of  the  wounded  who  had  been 
held  in  Fredericksburg  were  brought  to  the  river's  side  and 
were  sent  over  under  a  flag  of  truce,  and  thence  they  were 
sent  to  Potomac  Creek  or  to  Washington.  Sunday  and  the 
10th  coincide  and  the.  words  of  a  Franklin  County  minister 
seemed  soothing  after  the  uproar  of  the  past  week ;  the  weather 
was  warm  and  pleasant.  The  Regiment  had  a  warm  welcome 
for  Lieutenant  Colonel  Parsons  who  returned  to  the  camp  on 
the  llth,  having  been  away  on  sick  leave.  The  story  of  the 
campaign  can  close  in  no  better  way  than  by  giving  entire  the 
letter  from  Division  Commander  Newton  to  Governor  Andrew  : 

HEADQUARTERS  THIRD  DIVISION,  SIXTH  ARMY  CORPS, 

OFFICE  OF  ADJUTANT  GENERAL,  May  15th,  1863 
His  Excellency  John  A.  Andrew,  Governor  of  Massachusetts: 

SIR:  Permit  me  to  call  your  attention  to  the  excellent 
conduct  of  the  Massachusetts  regiments  under  my  command, 
during  the  late  operations  of  the  Sixth  Corps. 

The  Seventh  Massachusetts  stormed  the  heights  of  Freder 
icksburg  in  column  without  firing  a  shot,  and  suffered  severely. 
To  Lieutenant  Colonel  Harlow,  who  commanded  the  regiment 
after  the  wounding  of  Colonel  Johns,  I  mainly  attribute  this 
fortunate  result.  Colonel  Harlow  proved  himself  a  hero. 
As  this  was  a  charge  not  exceeded  in  brilliancy  and  daring  by 
any  operations  of  the  war,  the  Seventh  ought  to  receive 
adequate  praise. 

The  Tenth  and  Thirty-Seventh,  although  under  fire  in  Fred 
ericksburg  on  the  morning  of  May  3d,  rendered  their  principal 
services  in  the  afternoon  and  the  following  day  at  Salem 
Heights. 

Their  coolness  under  fire  and  admirable  discipline,  merit 
the  warmest  acknowledgments.  The  Tenth  was  under  the 
command  of  Major  Parker,  during  the  most  important  period 
of  their  operations,  Col.  H.  L.  Eustis  having  command  of  the 
brigade. 

The  conduct  of  all  these  regiments,  at  such  critical  juncture, 
has  been  an  ample  return  for  all  the  care  bestowed  by  Your 
Excellency  and  the  state  upon  their  organization  and  discipline. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be  your  obedient  servant, 

JOHN  NEWTON,  Major  General 


MAY  15-30,  '63  FALMOUTH  195 

FALMOUTH 

The  remainder  of  May  was  hardly  more  than  a  round  of 
drills,  inspections  and  reviews,  the  first  named  being  resumed 
by  orders  from  brigade  headquarters  on  the  15th.     With  the 
18th  came  inspection  and  later  a  review  by  General  Sedgwick. 
Not  all  the  men  sent  to  the  hospital  enjoyed  the  stay  there 
and  a  Company  H  man  writes  in  his  diary  of  his  calling  on 
the    surgeon    for    a    dismissal    to    his    Regiment,  which    he 
obtained,  but  failed  to  receive  a  pass  to  ride  on  the  cars; 
somewhat  roiled  thereat,  the  plucky  fellow,  though  wounded  in 
his  foot,  on  the  3d  walked  back  and  limped  into  camp  about 
2.00  p.  m.     The  same  disposition  was  manifested  by  Colonel 
Browne  of  the  36th  New  York  who  threatened  to  shoot  the 
surgeon    who    started    to    amputate    his    wounded    leg,    the 
doughty  Colonel  saying,  "I  came  here  to  have  my  leg  treated, 
not  cut  off."     May  23d,  Company  K  became  the  color  com 
pany,  an  honor  of  course,  but  carrying  with  it  a  deal  of  com 
pensation.    To  keep  the  men  busy  all  hands  were  set  at  work 
turnpiking  the  company  streets  and  in  that  way  they  knew 
just  how  hot  it  was.    About  the  same  time,  the  25th,  the  men 
brought  in  poles  and  branches  and  constructed  leafy  arbors 
on  each  side  of  their  respective  streets.     To  "slick  up"  seems 
to  be  one  of  the  inherent  traits  in  the  average  American. 

June,  the  loveliest  of  months,  found  the  Army  of  the  Potomac 
still  encamped  on  the  banks  of  the  Rappahannock.  The  rest 
obtained  since  the  arduous  campaign  of  three  weeks  before  had 
renewed  the  energy  and  determination  of  the  men  and  they 
were  ready  for  the  orders  which  were  soon  to  come.  The  abid 
ing  place  of  the  Tenth  was  known  as  "Camp  Eustis"  in  honor 
of  the  Colonel  who  was  still  at  the  head  of  the  brigade.  The 
boys  were  as  happy  as  they  well  could  be  under  the  circum 
stances  and  were  nothing  awed  when,  at  three  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  the  4th,  orders  came  to  pack  up  and  be  ready  to 
march  at  once.  Hardly  had  the  first  part  of  the  command 
been  obeyed  when  they  were  directed  to  take  arms  and 
equipments  and  to  fall  in,  but  when  line  was  formed  and 


196  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

guns  stacked  we  not  only  had  time  to  cook  breakfast  but  to 
remain  here  all  day  and  night,  a  condition  of  affairs  which 
had  quite  a  natural  appearance.  Friday,  the  5th,  however, 
there  was  a  forward  move  and  for  the  third  time  within  six 
months,  we  were  to  cross  the  Rappahannock  under  fire. 
Howe's  Division  (First)  of  the  Sixth  Corps  led  the  way; 
crossing  the  river  in  boats  under  a  severe  fire,  and  driving  the 
enemy's  skirmishers  nearly  a  mile,  they  captured  about  two 
hundred  prisoners  without  the  loss  of  a  man.  Meanwhile 
the  pontoon  bridge  was  laid,  as  of  old,  at  Franklin's  Crossing 
and  the  remainder  of  the  Division  hurried  over  to  the  assist 
ance  of  the  brigade  which  had  opened  the  way.  It  was  the 
lot  of  the  Tenth  to  be  under  arms  all  day,  but  not  to  march. 
On  the  morning  of  the  6th,  the  Tenth  broke  camp  and  moved 
down  to  the  river.  Only  an  occasional  sharpshooter  of  the 
enemy,  concealed  in  the  houses,  disturbed  the  quiet  of  the 
morning. 

This  June  activity  was  wholly  incident  to  the  desire  of 
Hooker  to  learn  just  what  his  opponent,  General  Lee,  was 
doing.  Rumor  had  it  that  Lee  was  contemplating  another 
expedition  northward,  for  certainly  there  were  unusual 
movements  across  the  river  and  on  the  heights,  and  not  only 
was  Pleasant  on  sent  on  an  errand  of  discovery,  but  Sedgwick 
was  commanded  to  cross  the  Rappahannock  and  still  further 
explore  the  mystery.  It  was  this  exploration  in  which  we 
were  then  taking  part.  At  6.00  p.  m.,  June  7th,  Brooks's 
(Second)  Division  crossed  and  relieved  Howe's  troops,  so 
long  at  the  front.  Observing  this  movement,  the  enemy, 
evidently  expecting  an  attack,  began  firing  on  our  skirmishers, 
but  a  fire  from  our  batteries  soon  sent  them  back  to  the  cover 
of  the  woods.  McCartney's  Battery  then  turned  its  guns 
upon  a  brick  house  behind  which  the  Rebels  were  posting  a 
battery,  compelling  them  to  limber  up  and  retire.  Had  they 
succeeded  in  getting  their  guns  in  position  they  would  have 
used  up  Howe's  Division.  At  eight  o'clock  a  detail  of  a 
thousand  men  from  the  Second  Brigade,  Third  Division,  was 
sent  over  and  among  them  were  seven  companies  of  the  Tenth 


JUNE  8,  '63  FREDERICKSBURG  197 

Regiment.  Reaching  the  other  side,  they  were  furnished 
with  picks  and  shovels  and  were  led  out  in  front  of  the  line 
of  battle  where  they  were  set  to  work  digging  rifle  pits  and 
breastworks  for  the  artillery.  All  the  time  we  could  hear 
the  strains  of  band  music  from  the  Rebel  camp,  though  it 
was  not  loud  enough  to  drown  the  rumbling  of  baggage  wagons 
and  artillery  within  their  lines. 

The  day  was  Sunday  and  one  usually  taken  for  a  fight,  but 
this  time  neither  side  appeared  extremely  anxious.  The 
Confederates  soon  divined  that  our  movement  was  not  one 
meaning  the  assault  of  their  works,  so  they  watched  us  and 
we  in  turn  observed  them.  We  were  so  near  that  exchange  of 
civilities  was  possible  and  soon  the  boys  on  both  sides  got  to 
trading  papers,  coffee,  etc.,  as  usual.  This  was  interdicted, 
however,  by  the  officers  at  headquarters.  June  Sth  revealed 
a  line  of  rifle  pits  a  mile  long  as  a  result  of  the  previous  night's 
digging.  Men  were  sent  over  to  cut  down  the  trees  along  the 
river's  bank  and  around  the  Bernard  house.  The  Rebel 
sharpshooters  who  during  the  day  had  inflicted  some  loss  on 
our  men  were  dispersed  by  a  few  well-directed  shots  from 
McCartney's  Battery.  The  9th  was  a  prolongation  of  the 
day  before,  with  a  revelation  of  more  rifle  pits,  the  destruction 
of  more  trees  along  the  side  of  the  river  and  the  continued 
work  of  the  sharpshooters.  The  case  of  the  latter,  however, 
was  well  attended  to  by  the  appearance  of  about  two  hundred 
members  of  Berdan's  Sharpshooters  and  it  was  all  up  with 
the  Johnnies,  so  far  as  shooting  was  concerned.  At  six 
of  the  afternoon,  there  was  a  play  of  artillery  on  both  sides 
with  nothing  serious  resulting. 

At  6.30  p.  m.,  June  10th,  the  Regiment  went  across  the 
river  and  relieved  the  98th  New  York  on  the  skirmish  line. 
We  were  fired  on  as  we  deployed  and  the  firing  continued 
until  we  reached  the  line,  Alpheus  B.  Parker  of  Company  G 
being  severely  wounded  there.  After  dark  we  were  enter 
tained  by  the  enemy  who  from  their  exalted  camps  treated 
us  to  vocal  and  instrumental  music.  Among  their  tunes  we 
recognized  "The  Lone  Starry  Hours,"  and  "The  Cottage  by 


198  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

the  Sea."  Several  northern  ladies  visiting  our  camps  allowed 
their  curiosity  to  tempt  them  to  the  front,  just  for  a  sight  of 
the  boys  in  gray.  On  the  llth  we  were  relieved  and  fell  back 
to  the  rifle  pits  as  a  reserve.  It  was  interesting  to  note  how 
completely  Berdan's  men  silenced  the  sharpshooters  of  the 
enemy.  They  didn't  dare  show  their  heads  above  the  breast 
works.  The  following  day,  packing  up  at  6.00  a.  m.,  we  moved 
down  behind  the  lower  Bernard  house  and  lay  there  till  eight 
in  the  evening,  when  we  again  entered  the  rifle  pits  at  the  left 
of  our  line,  one-fourth  of  the  men  being  on  duty  at  a  time. 
The  13th  brought  an  end  of  the  duty  across  the  river,  though 
during  the  long  day  we  stood  ready  to  receive  an  attack  from 
the  foe  who  evidently  was  in  motion.  A  thick  cloud  of  dust 
at  9.00  a.  m.  revealed  what  proved  to  be  the  marching  of  a 
heavy  column  of  Lee's  troops  towards  our  right.  At  night 
came  a  heavy  thunder  shower,  under  cover  of  which  all  of 
the  troops  were  withdrawn  to  the  Union  side  of  the  stream 
and  the  bridge  was  taken  up,  our  Regiment  going  over  at 
about  eleven  o'clock.  Our  three  days'  stay  across  the  river 
had  not  been  a  picnic,  the  period  being  one  uninterrupted 
series  of  digging,  skirmishing  or  watching.  Rest  was  what 
we  now  needed  most. 

NORTHWARD 

Before  nine  on  the  morning  of  the  14th  the  last  of  the  pickets 
were  across,  the  pontoons  were  up  and  the  tired  men  were 
permitted  to  rest  until  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  when  we 
were  up  and  off  again,  this  time  to  Stafford  Court  House t 
getting  there  at  about  five  o'clock,  and  there  we  expected  to 
pass  the  night,  but  that  the  army  was  on  the  march  was  soon 
evident,  for  at  ten  we  were  roused  and  started  along  in  con 
junction  with  baggage  and  artillery  trains.  Stevens  says  of 
that  night's  march: 

Our  corps  being  rear  guard,  started  at  ten  o'clock  at  night. 
The  darkness  was  intense  and  a  thunder  shower  prevailed. 
Our  route  for  a  long  time  lay  through  a  thick  woods,  where 
the  branches  of  the  trees,  meeting  over  our  heads,  shut  out 


JUNE  14,  '63  NORTHWARD  199 

the  little  light  that  might  have  penetrated  the  thunder  clouds, 
and  the  column  was  shut  in  perfect  darkness.  The  roads 
were  terribly  muddy,  and  the  batteries  which  \vere  trying  to 
pass  over  the  same  route  were  frequently  stuck  in  the  mire. 
Our  men  stumbled  over  stones  and  fallen  trees,  often  falling 
beneath  the  feet  of  the  horses.  Men  fell  over  logs  and  stones, 
breaking  their  arms  and  legs.  Thus  we  continued  the  hasty 
and  difficult  march,  while  the  rain  poured  in  torrents  upon  us. 
Later  in  the  night  the  road  became  more  open  and  the  rain 
ceased.  The  darkness  was  not  so  black,  still  it  was  difficult 
to  see  the  road.  We  were  passing  over  corduroy;  some  of  the 
logs  were  a  foot,  and  others  a  foot  and  a  half  through.  They 
were  slippery  from  the  rain,  and  the  men,  heavily  laden  with 
knapsacks,  guns  and  cartridges,  tumbled  headlong,  many  of 
them  going  off  at  the  side,  and  rolling  far  down  the  steep 
embankments. 

After  such  a  night  it  was  discouraging  to  find  that  not  more 
than  five  miles  of  progress  had  been  made.  Had  a  soldier 
asked  his  neighbor  as  to  the  destination  of  the  expedition, 
very  likely  that  party  would  have  said,  "I  don't  know  and 
I'm  dashed  if  I  believe  anybody  does."  At  any  rate  that 
was  usually  the  condition  of  the  enlisted  men,  and  for  that 
matter,  of  a  large  portion  of  the  commissioned  officers.  Not 
even  General  Hooker,  at  that  time,  could  have  told  what  the 
ultimate  aim  wras  nor  just  what  he  was  going  to  do.  Possibly 
that  Fate  who  from  all  creatures  hides  the  future,  might  have 
whispered  that  already  the  letters  were  beginning  to  spell 
Gettysburg.  The  Confederate  commander  with  a  confidence 
born  of  Frederic ksburg  and  Chancellorsville  had  determined 
to  take  the  initiative,  and  once  more  give  the  North  a  taste 
of  the  realities  of  warfare,  so  long  visited  upon  the  South. 
He  had  long  been  beset  by  a  large  number  of  hot-headed 
leaders  who  were  anxious  that  the  theatre  of  war  should  be 
transferred  to  northern  soil.  In  conformity  with  these 
demands  and  his  own  plans,  as  early  as  the  3d  of  June  he  had 
sent  a  part  of  Longstreet's  Corps  on  its  way  to  Culpeper  Court 
House.  On  the  4th  and  5th,  Ewell's  Corps  took  the  same 
direction,  leaving  only  A.  P.  Hill's  to  look  after  the  beleagured 
city.  Realizing  that  something  unusual  was  stirring  in  the 


200  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Rebel  camps,  General  Hooker  had  ordered  the  crossing  by 
the  Sixth  Corps  on  the  6th,  with  the  result  that  Sedgwick 
discovered  that  the  enemy  was  apparently  there  in  force. 
Hooker  was  still  in  ignorance  of  the  departure  of  the  Confed 
erates  on  the  8th,  when  they  were  massing  at  Culpeper. 
Stuart's  Cavalry  was  already  there,  before  the  main  move 
ment  began,  so  Hooker  determined  to  send  his  whole  mounted 
array  to  break  up  Stuart's  force.  The  outcome  of  this  move 
was  the  famous  engagement  of  Brandy  Station,  which  many 
a  cavalryman  will  always  insist  was  really  the  most  spirited 
encounter  of  the  war.  Its  chief  result,  however,  was  the 
revelation  of  Lee's  presence  in  force  at  Culpeper  and  the 
disclosure,  through  captured  correspondence,  of  the  contem 
plated  invasion. 

At  that  moment,  June  13th,  while  the  Union  Army  was 
still  at  Falmouth,  Lee's  forces  were  stretching  from  Freder- 
icksburg  where  Hill  was,  through  Culpeper,  where  we  find 
Longstreet,  to  Front  Royal,  the  entrance  of  the  Shenandoah 
Valley,  writh  Ewell  driving  all  before  him.  Were  this  book  a 
philosophical  discussion  of  the  war  and  its  development,  it 
would  be  well  to  dwell  here  on  what  ought  to  have  been  done, 
but^as  this  is  not  our  province,  we  confine  ourselves  rather 
to  what  was  really  done.  It  was  the  information  thus  obtained 
which  hurried  the  Union  troops  away  from  the  Falmouth 
camps  on  the  13th,  leaving  to  the  Sixth  Corps  the  labor  of 
guarding  the  rear.  In  departing  from  the  camps  and  hospitals 
of  more  than  half  a  year's  stay,  there  was  the  usual  amount 
of  necessary  destruction  of  property,  lest  the  same  fall  into 
the  hands  of  the  enemy.  The  waste  of  war  is  always  glaringly 
apparent  at  such  times;  bedding,  glass  and  earthenware, 
instruments  and  medicines,  with  all  sorts  of  cooking  utensils, 
were  dumped  into  the  common  conflagration  and  destroyed. 
Yet,  with  so  much  "thrown  away,  there  was  enough  left  to  load 
the  baggage  trains,  which,  if  placed  in  a  single  line  would 
have  extended  seventy  miles. 

The  roads  were  better  on  the  march  of  the  15th,  our  route 
extending  to  Dumfries,  where  we  arrived  at  about  11.00  a.  m. 


JUNE  15-21,  '63  NORTHWARD  201 

and  halted  for  rest.  The  day  was  terribly  hot  and  the  long 
stay  in  camp  had  unfitted  the  men  for  long  and  hurried 
marching,  hence  the  amount  of  straggling  was  unusual  and 
the  footsore  victims,  when  they  did  come  up  were  pitiable 
objects.  The  hardships  of  that  day  are  yet  discussed  by  the 
survivors.  Some  have  said  that  it  was  the  most  trying 
march  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  The  ambulances  were 
soon  filled  with  men  who  wrere  sunstruck  or  near  it;  every 
available  bit  of  shade  was  seized  upon;  nor  was  the  falling 
out  confined  to  men  from  the  ranks,  since  the  fierce  rays  of 
the  sun  beat  right  through  shoulder  straps  that,  in  some  cases, 
bore  eagles  upon  them.  The  sight  was  appalling,  but  still 
the  march  w^as  onward.  The  start,  on  the  16th,  was  made 
at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  to  escape  some  of  the  midday 
heat,  reaching  Wolf  Run  Ford  on  the  Occoquan  at  11.00  a.  m. 
where  we  enjoyed  a  rest  of  two  hours;  thence  we  proceeded 
to  Fairfax  Station,  eighteen  miles  from  Alexandria  on  the 
Virginia  Midland  Railroad,  where  there  was  a  halt  of  two 
nights  and  a  day.  During  that  day's  march  Private  Newson 
of  Company  I  was  overcome  by  the  heat  and  was  unconscious 
for  some  time.  After  a  full  day's  rest  at  the  station,  on  the 
morning  of  the  18th,  the  brigade  moved  up  to  the  Court 
House  of  Fairfax  County  where  the  men  began  to  get  the 
rumors  of  Lee's  northward  raid.  The  balloon  corps  had  been 
broken  up,  the  air  ships  sent  to  Washington  and  the  men 
returned  to  the  Regiment.  Before  leaving,  Lieutenant  Kaul- 
bach,  who  had  been  very  active  in  the  observation  squad,  was 
presented  by  the  men  under  his  command  with  a  fine  sword, 
sash  and  belt  in  testimony  of  their  respect  and  esteem. 

Some  Rebel  prisoners  were  brought  in  on  the  19th,  the 
Regiment  was  inspected  and  orders  arrived  to  be  ready  to 
move  at  a  minute's  notice,  yet  we  remained  here  over  the  20th 
and,  on  the  21st,  our  regimental  birthday,  we  made  only  a 
very  short  change  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  a  better  location. 
At  the  same  time  there  was  no  repose  in  our  vicinity.  The 
Second  Division,  with  our  cavalry,  moved  out  on  the  20th; 
cannonading  was  heard  from  the  direction  of  Bull  Run,  more 


202  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

prisoners  were  brought  in  and  the  weather  was  rainy  and 
muggy.  Reveille  at  five  o'clock  on  the  22d  was  an  agreeable 
sound,  the  first  time  we  had  heard  it  since  leaving  Falmouth. 
To  secure  a  proper  amount  of  water,  digging  was  resorted  to. 
An  unusual  order  was  received  on  the  23d  to  the  effect  that 
a  detail  of  125  men  was  wanted  from  the  Tenth  Regiment 
to  guard  a  valuable  commissary  train  from  Manassas  Junction 
to  Gainesville.  The  men  felt  the  requisition  a  compliment 
for  the  duty  was  important  and  dangerous,  this  being  the 
first  time  such  a  train  had  tried  to  pass  over  the  route  in 
seven  months.  There  was  a  halt  at  the  junction,  in  view  of 
two  large  pieces  of  apparent  artillery,  but  under  the  combined 
attack  of  the  quartermaster  and  some  contrabands,  the  guns 
were  found  to  be  Quakers  and  the  train  passed  on  unharmed. 
While  in  constant  expectation  of  guerrilla  attacks,  the  desti 
nation  was  reached  without  molestation.  On  this  day  came 
one  of  those  possibilities  of  army  life,  necessary  but  sad. 
Robert  Kernan  of  Company  A,  having  proved  himself  a 
worthless  fellow,  being  in  the  guard  house  a  large  part  of  the 
time,  and  having  been  dishonorably  discharged,  on  the  23d 
was  drummed  out  of  camp. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  24th,  our  brigade  marched  out  to 
Centre ville,  relieving  Hays's  brigade  of  the  22d  Corps  to  which 
had  been  entrusted  the  care  and  defense  of  Washington.  The 
relieved  brigade  comprised  the  lllth,  125th,  126th  and  the 
39th  New  York,  the  latter  being  known  as  the  Garibaldi 
Guards,  and  all  four  organizations  were  among  the  surrend 
ered  troops  at  Harper's  Ferry  in  September,  1862.  They  at 
once  marched  northward  and  became  a  part  of  the  Second 
Corps.  We  moved  into  their  places  with  the  expectation  that 
we  were  to  remain  a  while  and  look  after  the  fortifications. 
Vain  hope ;  nothing  so  mild  as  this  was  in  reserve  for  us !  We 
did  halt  over  the  25th  but  in  a  rain  storm.  Before  3.00  a.  m. 
of  the  26th,  we  were  roused,  and  told  that  there  was  only  half 
an  hour  for  packing,  eating  and  starting,  yet  it  was  seven 
o'clock  before  we  got  under  our  burdens  and  advanced.  We 
had  been  near  enough  to  daily  papers  to  know  that  Lee's 


JUNE  27,  '63  EDWARD'S  FERRY  203 

army  had  been  doing  no  end  of  damage  to  the  country  north 
of  us;  we  knew  that  his  cavalry  had  sacked  Chambersburg, 
Pa.,  and  that  the  Keystone  State  was  in  a  complete  panic, 
her  Capital  being  entrenched  and  that  Philadelphia  stood  in 
mortal  dread  of  the  Confederates;  hence  he  would  not  have 
been  a  very  good  Yankee  who  did  not  guess  that  our  hurried 
action,  on  this  inclement  morning,  had  something  to  do  with 
the  stress  to  the  northward. 

The  day  was  wet  and  uncomfortable,  the  rain  constant  and 
drizzling,  the  pace  a  brisk  one,  and  again  the  men  were  unable 
to  endure  the  exactions  and  at  roll  call  it  was  found  that 
many  had  fallen  out.  About  1.00  p.  m.  we  passed  Herndon's 
Station  on  the  Alexandria  and  Leesburg  R.  R.  and  at  five 
o'clock  reached  Drainesville,  having  made  about  seventeen 
miles.  That  night's  rest  was  very  enjoyable  to  our  soldiers, 
hurrying  thus  to  relieve  the  nation's  peril,  yet  of  its  imminent 
character  few  were  then  aware.  Up  at  four  on  the  morning 
of  the  27th  and  marching  till  noon,  we  reached  Edward's 
Ferry  and  formed  battle  line,  remaining  thus  until  4.30  p.  m. 
Though  few,  if  any,  were  aware  of  the  fact,  this  wait  was  very 
near  the  point  where  the  great  Federal  disaster  of  Ball's 
Bluff  took  place  on  October  21st,  1861,  when  the  15th  and 
20th  Massachusetts  were  so  badly  cut  up.  A  considerable 
part  of  the  Union  forces  crossed  the  river  at  this  very  point. 
Crossing  the  Potomac  on  pontoon  bridges,  we  were  once  more 
in  "Maryland,  My  Maryland,"  not  having  had  a  chance  to 
view  her  placid  features  since  we  gave  up  our  winter  quarters 
at  Bright  wood,  more  than  a  year  before. 

We  were  not  averse  to  leaving  behind  us  the  weed-grown 
and  battle-scarred  soil  of  the  Old  Dominion,  glad  to  see  some 
thing  that  looked  more  like  home.  We  were  within  two  miles 
of  Poolesville  when  we  filed  into  a  field  of  clover,  threw  our 
wearied  selves  upon  the  inviting  bed  and  sought  rest  and  sleep. 
It  was  ordered  that  we  were  to  respect  private  property  and 
no  fences  were  to  be  taken  for  fuel,  but  a  concession  was  made 
to  those  hungry  men  who  must  have  fuel  for  cooking  their 
coffee,  that  they  might  take  the  top  rail  of  the  inviting  zig- 


204  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

zags.  A  constant  taking  of  said  top  rail  soon  caused  the 
farmers'  divisions  to  disappear.  To  the  Tenth  Regiment  on 
the  28th,  was  given  the  important  duty  of  serving  as  rear 
guard  for  the  Corps.  Like  most  honors  it  cost  something,  for 
while  the  right  of  the  Corps  halted  at  New  Market  at  about 
six  in  the  afternoon,  we  did  not  get  there  until  past  midnight, 
having  passed  through  Poolesville,  Monocacy,  Barnesville, 
around  Sugar  Loaf  Mountain,  through  Hyattstown  to  near 
Monrovia,  thus  realizing  what  a  Sabbath  day's  journey  might 
mean,  since  this  long  day  was  Sunday.  At  Barnesville,  some 
of  the  Corps  were  gladdened  by  the  sound  of  a  church  bell,  and 
finding  the  edifice  near,  some  ventured  in  and  were  pleased 
to  hear  the  priest,  for  it  was  a  Catholic  church,  pray  for  the 
President  and  peace.  It  was  at  Hyattstown  that  the  super- 
sedure  of  General  Hooker  by  Meade  on  that  very  day  was 
learned,  and  "know-it-all"  tongues  wagged  vigorously  for  a 
while,  many  thinking  that  the  activity  and  tactics  of  the 
former  deserved  a  better  fate,  but  the  brisk  marching  pro 
ceeded  just  the  same. 

The  29th  carried  us  through  Monrovia  and  New  Market 
where  the  exhibition  of  Union  sentiment  was  a  gladsome  sight 
to  loyal  eyes.  Ladies  waved  the  dear  old  flag  and  supplied 
us  with  wrater  and  other  necessities  as  they  could.  The  entire 
brigade  was  in  the  rear  of  the  Corps,  and  a  heavy  rain  was 
falling,  impeding  us  seriously,  so  it  was  midnight  when  we 
reached  camp  near  Westminster.  The  last  day  of  June  was 
rainy,  like  the  29th,  and  necessarily  slow.  It  was  noon  before 
we  reached  Westminster  whence  the  rear  guard  of  the  enemy 
had  been  driven  that  very  morning.  It  was  here  and  on  this 
day  that  our  old  friends  of  the  o6th  New  York  left  us,  their 
two  years'  enlistment  having  expired.  The  two  regiments 
had  been  most  intimate  ever  since  their  being  brigaded 
together  at  Brightwood.  They  had  fought  side  by  side  and 
each  had  the  confidence  of  the  other.  We  did  not  know  that 
their  time  was  up,  so  there  were  no  good-byes  as  we  marched 
on  and  they  fell  out,  to  go  thence  to  Baltimore  and  so  home. 
One  of  our  Company  D  men,  visiting  a  house,  found  there 


JULY  1,  '63  FORCED  MARCH  205 

one  of  Stuart's  cavalry  and  at  once  made  him  prisoner.  We 
were  not  permitted  to  go  into  the  town,  a  guard  being  placed 
around  the  brigade.  After  a  short  halt  for  dinner  we  pushed 
forward  to  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  Manchester,  Md.,  where 
we  encamped  in  a  piece  of  woods  and  were  mustered  for  two 
months'  pay. 

In  the  last  four  days,  in  the  hottest  of  weather,  much  of 
the  time  in  the  midst  of  heavy  rain,  we  had  marched  a  hundred 
miles.  We  were  twenty  miles  from  the  left  of  the  Union 
Army  and  were  on  the  extreme  right.  We  were  between 
the  Confederates  and  Baltimore  and  that  first  day  of  July  we 
were  resting  while  our  comrades  were  fighting  at  Gettysburg. 
The  First,  Eleventh  and  Twelfth  Corps  were  already  making 
history,  and  had  we  known,  our  tired  feelings  would  have 
disappeared  in  the  thought  that  we  should  be  up  and  away 
to  their  relief;  but  we  rested  until  eight  in  the  evening,  when 
there  came  to  our  ears  the  words,  "Pack  up  and  fall  in 
immediately."  Never  was  the  well-known  order  obeyed  more 
quickly.  We  were  many  miles  away  and  the  distance  was  to 
be  covered  in  the  quickest  time  possible.  To  begin  with,  an 
error  in  route  was  made  and  we  had  gone  four  miles  in  the 
wrong  direction  before  this  was  learned,  and  so  we  counter 
marched;  but  think  of  the  time  lost  in  marching  eight  miles 
when  the  fate  of  a  nation  was  at  stake!  The  amenities  as 
well  as  the  asperities  of  hard  service  are  remembered,  and  a 
Company  H  man  recalls  with  unvarying  gratitude  the  drink 
Major  Parker  gave  him  from  his  canteen,  the  same  being 
considerably  stronger  than  aqua  pura.  ''I  guess  a  taste  of 
this  will  make  you  feel  better"  were  the  words  of  the  really 
kind-hearted  officer  as  he  noted  the  exhausted  appearance 
of  the  private.  All  that  long  night  the  weary  march  con 
tinued;  there  was  a  halt  of  ten  minutes  for  breakfast,  then 
on  again.  On  the  way  we  learned  of  the  fight  of  the  preceding 
day  where  the  First  Corps  was  engaged  and  of  the  death  of 
Reynolds,  and  what  news  we  got  was  far  from  encouraging, 
yet  we  marched  with  all  the  more  speed  because  of  the 
seeming  need. 


206  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

GETTYSBURG 

The  day  was  bright  and  hot  and  the  men  strove  to  keep 
their  ranks  but  occasionally  one  fell  out  from  sheer  exhaustion, 
to  follow  on  more  slowly  as  he  regained  his  strength.  The 
people  along  the  road  were  kindness  itself  and  those  of  Little- 
town  will  never  be  forgotten  for  the  citizens  were  already 
caring  for  the  wounded  from  the  field  and  distributing  water 
as  we  hurried  by.  At  last  the  Valley  of  Death  was  visible, 
revealed  beneath  the  smoke  of  the  battle  which  thousands 
were  waging  so  fiercely.  The  afternoon  of  July  2d  was  well 
spent  when  we  arrived  with  a  record  of  thirty-four  miles  in 
considerably  less  than  twenty-four  hours.  There  were  yet 
marching  and  countermarching  enough  before  us  to  bring 
the  day's  registry  up  to  very  near  forty  miles.  Here  must 
have  begun  the  record  of  the  Sixth  Corps  whereby  it  grew 
to  be  called  the  "Foot  Cavalry  of  the  Potomac  Army." 
Walter  S.  Goss  of  Company  A,  Seventh  Massachusetts,  in  a 
chapter  of  his  regimental  history  gives  the  following  descrip 
tion  of  the  close  of  this  eventful  day : 

As  the  tired  divisions  of  the  Sixth  Corps  are  resting  in 
columns  by  brigade,  there  comes  word  from  our  beloved 
commander,  Sedgwick,  "Tell  General  Eustis  to  bring  his 
brigade  to  the  front  at  once."  Almost  as  by  magic  they  spring 
to  their  feet  with  a  cheer  upon  their  lips.  These  tired,  hungry, 
footsore  men  spring  forward  at  the  word  of  command,  and 
swing  into  line  on  the  double  quick.  Readers  and  friends, 
can  pen  say  more?  After  marching  over  forty  miles  through 
clouds  of  dust,  through  streams  of  water,  and  over  rocky 
roadbeds,  in  a  dark  and  sultry  July  night,  stifling  and  de 
pressing,  they  spring  forward  at  the  wrord  with  all  their  ancient 
vigor  and  zeal,  ready  to  dare  and  die.  As  General  Longstreet 
in  his  Century  article  upon  the  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  says, 
"Preparing  for  another  attack  upon  the  Federal  lines,  I  rode 
forward  to  the  front  of  our  position;  but  seeing  the  enemy 
rapidly  forming  new  lines  of  battle  with  fresh  troops,  I  thought 
it  prudent  to  desist  from  attack  until  our  lines  had  been 
reformed  and  were  more  compact,  having  suffered  very 
severely  in  the  assaults  upon  the  Union  lines."  Yes,  there 
they  stood,  the  brigades  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  firm,  resolute, 
with  not  fifty  stragglers  in  the  whole  number,  ready  to  die 


JULY  3,  '63  GETTYSBURG  207 

for  the  maintenance  of  our  institutions  and  for  the  repulse  of 
the  hosts  of  treason.  *  *  No  more  rapid  and 

indomitable  march  is  recorded  in  any  war.  It  ranks  with 
Stonewall  Jackson's  rapid  movements.  It  shows  the  disci 
pline,  the  nerve,  the  soldierly  qualities  of  its  men,  and  it  shows 
in  the  soldier-patriot,  Gen.  John  Sedgwick,  the  qualities  of 
great,  comprehensive  and  correct  military  judgment.  * 
*  *  We  were  not  called  upon  to  die  amidst  the  flash 
of  rifles,  the  hiss  of  the  shell,  or  plunging  shot;  but  we  were 
summoned  to  render  all  the  service  that  lay  in  our  power. 
As  time  rolls  on,  the  Sixth  Corps  at  Gettysburg  will  be  remem 
bered,  not  as  Grouchy  at  Waterloo,  but  as  Desaix  at  Marengo; 
Little  Round  Top  was  saved  by  the  foresight  of  Warren,  the 
Martyr,  and  the  timely  arrival  of  the  Fifth  and  Sixth  Corps; 
and  in  the  advance  of  time,  Eustis  and  his  brigade  can  claim 
their  share  in  the  glory  so  gallantly  won  by  all  the  Army 
Corps  at  Gettysburg. 

Lest  it  should  be  thought  that  undue  praise  is  given  to  our 
own  or  Eustis's  Brigade,  it  should  be  said  that  Shaler's  (First) 
was  also  ordered  forward  with  ours  and  it  formed  immediately 
in  our  rear.  Moreover,  Neill's  Brigade  of  the  Second  Division 
was  sent  to  the  right  to  the  relief  of  Slocum,  commanding  the 
Twelfth  Corps.  Newell's  account  of  the  struggle  is  meagre, 
though  he  states  that  Sergt.  A.  C.  Phillips  of  Company  E  was 
hit  in  the  breast  by  a  rifle  ball,  the  wound  proving  mortal, 
he  dying  the  October  following.  Sargent  of  Company  K,  tells 
his  story  briefly  but  pointedly  : 

About  five  o'clock  word  came  to  us  to  report  at  "Little 
Round  Top"  as  soon  as  possible.  We  could  hear  them  firing 
pretty  sharply.  We  went  on  the  double  quick,  loading  our 
guns  as  we  went.  When  we  got  there  we  found  that  our  men 
on  the  left  were  getting  the  worst  of  it.  We  went  in  and  the 
Rebs  soon  went  back.  We  had  one  man  killed  and  two 
wounded;  one  of  them  was  Captain  Barton.  He  was  shot 
through  the  thigh  but  would  not  leave  the  field  until  the 
fight  was  over  for  the  night." 

The  duties  of  the  Sixth  Corps  on  the  od  day  were  still  in  the 
way  of  reserve,  necessitating  a  deal  of  marching  from  point 
to  point,  where  services  were  needed.  At  one  time  we  were  under 
the  terrible  fire  of  the  combined  Confederate  artillery,  though 


208  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

only  two  men  of  the  Tenth,  Wm.  H.  Day  of  Company  F  and 
Frank  Mason  of  Company  D,  were  wounded.  Several  others 
were  hit  by  fragments  of  shells  and  some  of  them  knocked 
down,  but  none  were  seriously  injured.  A  tall  corporal  of 
Company  E,  whose  rifle  was  shot  out  of  his  hands,  remarking 
that  he  couldn't  march  without  a  gun,  left  the  ranks,  and 
taking  his  pick  from  the  many  lying  all  around  him,  coolly 
took  his  place  in  line  again.  The  37th,  marching  in  front  of 
the  Tenth,  had  more  than  a  score  of  men  wounded  in  the  furi 
ous  shelling  preparatory  to  Pickett's  charge;  this  excess  of 
injury  over  ours  being  accounted  for  by  the  closer  order  in 
which  they  were  advancing,  as  well  as  the  fact  that  the  num 
bers  of  the  37th  were  probably  three  times  those  of  the  Tenth. 
To  say  that  the  air  was  full  of  iron  is  putting  it  mildly. 
"Inferno"  of  the  deepest  and  reddest  hue  possible  could  not 
begin  to  express  the  conditions  under  which  these  regiments 
were  marching.  Orders  could  not  be  heard  a  file  away. 
Loudest  shouting  was  necessary  to  make  one's  neighbor  hear. 
"Things  are  pretty  thick  here,"  yelled  Major  Parker  into  the 
ear  of  a  Company  F  man,  "but  somehow  I  don't  see  many 
cases  of  getting  hit."  After  this  experience  every  participant 
had  full  confidence  in  the  old  statement  as  to  a  man's  weight 
in  iron  and  lead  being  fired  for  every  one  killed.  When  the 
day  was  ended  we  were  permitted  to  make  small  fires,  to 
cook  coffee,  and  then  to  actually  rest,  a  most  gracious  privilege. 
In  the  fierce  fighting  of  the  afternoon,  when  Pickett  and  his 
men  made  their  famous  charge,  thus  reaching  the  high  water 
mark  of  the  Rebellion,  the  Sixth  Corps  had  no  part,  save  as 
already  indicated.  Yet  it  had  responded  to  every  order,  had 
accomplished  all  that  was  set  for  it  to  do,  and  in  writing 
"Gettysburg"  on  the  battle  flags  of  its  many  regiments, 
Sixth  Army  Corps  survivors  felt  that  in  no  way  were  they 
assuming  more  than  their  due  for  the  victory  of  Gettysburg. 
An  interesting  incident  of  the  day  after  the  battle  is  told 
by  Lieutenant  Colonel  Parsons  to  the  following  effect: 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  morning  on  the  5th  a  sergeant 
bearing  a  white  token  from  the  22d  Virginia  approached  the 


JULY  5,  '63 


GETTYSBURG 


209 


line.  He  was  halted  and  ordered  to  advance.  The  sergeant 
advanced  and  stated  that  he  wished  to  give  himself  up  as  a 
prisoner  and  desired  good  treatment.  I  interviewed  the 
sergeant  and  asked  him  what  troops  were  in  front.  I  was 


Capt.  H.  G.  Gilmore,   Capt.  G.  W.  Bigelow,  Capt.  E.  L.  Knight, 
Adjt.  C.  H.  Brewster,     Lt.  Col.  J.  B.  Parsons,      Lieut.  W.  F.  Darby, 
Asst.  Surg.  Wm.  Holbrook,  Lieut.  G.  C.  Kaulbach,  Asst.  Surg.  J.  H.  Oilman. 

(From  wood  cut  in  Newell's  History.) 

informed  by  him  that  the  Confederate  Army  had  all  with 
drawn.  I  detailed  a  sergeant  and  file  of  men  and  gave  them 
instructions,  in  the  presence  of  the  sergeant,  to  go  out  and 
verify  his  statement,  and  wound  up  by  informing  the  sergeant 
that  if  my  detail  was  captured  that  he  would  take  the  con- 


210  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

sequences.  They  were  gone  about  twenty  minutes  and  returned. 
At  twenty  minutes  past  three  I  sent  the  prisoner  to  head 
quarters  under  guard.  I  asked  that  he  might  have  the  best 
of  treatment,  as  he  had  surrendered  voluntarily,  and  given 
us  the  information  that  the  enemy  had  gone;  a  sergeant  and 
file  of  men  were  sent  to  the  front,  and  this  statement  was 
fully  verified.* 

Could  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  have  heard  the  joyous 
acclaim  that  spread  through  the  North  when  the  Fourth  of 
July,  1864,  was  ushered  in,  announcing  not  only  the  supreme 
victory  at  Gettysburg  but  that  Grant  at  Vicksburg  had  eaten 
his  famous  dinner  within  the  fortifications  of  the  long  be 
leaguered  city,  they  would  have  had  cause  to  believe  that 
their  sacrifices  had  not  been  in  vain.  Around  them  was  spread 
the  wreckage  of  three  days'  fighting  such  as  the  world  had 
seldom  seen.  The  dead  and  dying  were  on  every  hand,  and 
the  battle  smoke  yet  hung  heavily  over  the  scene.  It  was 
Independence  Day  and  very  likely  more  than  one  "boy  in 
blue"  reflected  that,  but  for  the  sacrifices  evident  all  about 
him,  it  had  been  a  solemn  mockery  to  thus  refer  to  the  day 
made  sacred  in  1776.  There  were  no  national  salutes;  those 
of  the  preceding  day,  seemingly,  were  enough  for  the  rest  of 
the  century.  Evidently  the  enemy  had  no  further  desire  for 
attacking.  There  was  more  or  less  skirmishing  over  the  field 
and  the  rain  fell  to  some  extent ;  Henry  Knights  of  Company 
I  was  wounded  in  his  hand;  and  we  thought  that  we  saw 
indications  of  retreat  on  the  part  of  the  Rebels.  One  of  the 
lads  on  the  spot  writes,  "Our  Regiment  was  sent  to  the  front 
early  this  morning.  We  took  up  a  position  about  sixty  yards 
in  advance  of  where  we  were  yesterday.  This  is  the  ground 


*When  in  New  York,  many  years  later,  with  the  Ancient  and 
Honorable  Artillery  company,  three  gentlemen  called  upon  me  at  the 
hotel ;  one  of  them  was  introduced  as  an  officer  of  the  Southern  Steam 
ship  line.  We  shook  hands,  and  he  informed  me  that  we  had  met 
before  and  asked  if  I  recognized  him.  He  said  that  he  desired  to  thank 
me  for  the  kindly  treatment  I  gave  him  wrhen  he  came  into  my  line 
on  the  morning  of  July  5th,  1863,  at  Gettysburg.  He  assured  me  that 
he  was  given  the  kindliest  treatment,  plenty  to  eat,  a  good  place  to 
sleep,  and  after  the  army  had  left,  he  was  paroled  and  sent  home. 
He  closed  by  saying  that  he  was  as  good  a  Union  man  and  had  as 
much  respect  and  love  for  the  Old  Flag  as  any  soldier  who  wore  the  blue. 


JULY  5,  '63  SOUTHWARD  211 

over  which  the  Rebels  charged  yesterday  and  it  is  covered 
with  their  dead.  The  Rebs  are  very  quiet  in  front  of  us  but, 
over  at  the  left,  they  are  skirmishing  some  and  they  threw  a 
few  shells  over  our  heads.  Everything  has  been  pretty  quiet 
today.  There  was  a  little  firing  at  dark,  just  to  make  our 
Fourth  of  July  fireworks." 

SOUTHWARD 

That  the  enemy  began  his  retreat  on  the  night  of  the  4th 
is  history;  that  the  following  day  the  Sixth  Corps,  or  Sedg- 
wick's  Cavalry,  as  some  called  it,  was  started  in  pursuit  may 
not  be  so  well  known.  Our  route  was  on  the  Fairfield  road  in 
the  direction  of  Hagerstown.  The  battle  field  was  a  scene 
of  horror;  dead  men  with  blackened  faces  were  thickly  strewn 
over  the  field — language  is  not  adequate  to  its  proper  descrip 
tion.  We  saw  the  smoking  ruins  of  the  barn  where  had  been 
placed  many  of  the  wounded  and  who,  unable  to  help  them 
selves,  perished  in  the  quickly  kindled  flames.  Every  house 
and  barn  from  the  battle  field  to  Fairfield  was  a  hospital  for 
the  wounded  Confederates,  while  tents,  more  or  less  dilapidated, 
added  to  the  accommodations  for  the  stricken  men  in  gray,  of 
whom,  we  were  told,  there  were  more  than  15,000.  The  Second 
Brigade  started  at  about  noon  and  its  members  remembered 
that  the  citizens  of  Pennsylvania  were  not  as  generous  as 
those  of  Maryland,  and  that  they  were  quite  indisposed  to 
take  anything  like  a  philosophical  view  of  the  losses  that  war 
had  inflicted  upon  them. 

The  Confederates  retreated  through  South  Mountain,  whose 
narrow  pass  is  a  short  distance  beyond  Fairfield.  Here  they 
had  planted  artillery  so  that  their  ranks  might  be  protected 
as  they  filed  through.  General  Sedgwick  pronounced  the 
position  too  strong  for  assault  and  the  main  body  of  the  army 
passed  to  the  left  by  way  of  Frederick,  while  the  Sixth  Corps 
moved  to  Emmitsburg,  excepting  Neill's  Brigade,  which  was 
detached  and  sent  in  pursuit  of  the  retreating  column.  Our 
own  Regiment,  after  pausing  for  a  while  at  Catoctin,  did  not 
reach  Emmitsburg  until  1.00  a.  m.  of  Tuesday,  the  7th.  We 


212  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

started  again  at  seven  o'clock  and  marched  all  day.  At  night 
fall  we  began  the  ascent  of  the  mountain  and  at  ten  o'clock 
camped  upon  the  summit.  The  passage  over  the  mountain 
was  not  without  its  picturesque  features.  The  scenery  was 
magnificent  and  the  people,  like  those  of  mountainous  regions 
generally,  were  pronounced  in  their  patriotism.  Owing  to 
continuous  rains,  the  march  of  the  8th  was  through  muddy 
roads,  while  firing  in  the  distance  indicated  the  meeting  of 
pursuers  and  pursued.  After  a  march  of  nine  miles,  at  2.00 
p.  m.  we  encamped  near  Middletown,  Md.  Our  progress  was 
no  longer  southward  but  rather  towards  the  west  and  on  the 
9th,  moving  through  Middletown,  we  proceeded  to  Boones- 
borough,  getting  there  at  10.00  a.  m.,  whence  the  enemy 
had  been  driven  that  very  morning.  We  had  marched  only 
five  miles  that  day. 

Gen.  John  Newton,  so  long  in  command  of  the  Third 
Division,  having  been  promoted  to  the  head  of  the  First  Corps 
after  the  death  of  Reynolds,  his  place  was  filled  by  the  advance 
of  Gen.  Joseph  J.  Bartlett  of  the  Second  Brigade,  First  Divi 
sion,  originally  Colonel  of  the  27th  New  York.  His  official 
report  for  the  nearly  three  weeks'  pursuit  is  substantially  given 
in  the  calendar  following.  On  the  10th,  starting  at  6.00  a.  m. 
we  advanced  up  the  turnpike  four  miles,  and  on  the  right  of 
the  same  the  Division  was  formed  in  two  lines,  skirmishing 
being  kept  up  all  day,  the  enemy  retiring  slowly,  and  with 
rain  still  in  evidence.  No  change  in  position  on  the  llth, 
save  as  General  Bartlett  threw  out  two  brigades,  one  for 
picket  and  one  to  strengthen  the  Second  Division.  The  12th 
took  the  Regiment  about  three  miles  nearer  the  front  and 
about  two  miles  to  the  left  of  the  turnpike;  there  was  con 
siderable  firing  and  our  pickets  advanced;  we  were  nearing 
Funkstown  and  the  enemy  was  retreating.  It  was  not  exactly 
an  ideal  time  for  visiting,  yet  the  Regiment  was  cheered  by 
the  sight  of  the  face  and  form  of  United  States  Senator  Henry 
Wilson,  all  the  way  from  Washington.  Evidently  he  wanted 
to  see  what  active  campaigning  was  like.  If  he  had  remained 
with  his  22d  Regiment  he  would  have  known  very  well  long 


JULY  19,  '63  RECROSS  POTOMAC  213 

before  this.  While  the  13th  was  ostensibly  passed  in  camp 
it  really  meant  picket  duty  for  about  two  hundred  of  us, 
about  all  there  were  in  the  Regiment  at  5.00  p.  m.  The  Rebel 
battle  line  was  not  more  than  six  hundred  rods  away. 

The  morning  of  the  14th  revealed  the  absence  of  the  foe, 
and  General  Bartlett,  sending  out  a  scouting  party,  was  able 
to  report  a  lacking  of  graycoats  in  his  front.  He  was  then 
ordered  to  support  General  Wright  of  the  First  Division  in  a 
reconnoissance  to  the  front;  their  advance  was  unobstructed 
by  the  enemy  who  had  crossed  the  Potomac  at  Williamsport 
during  the  night  and  were  now  in  their  own  Virginia.  Reach 
ing  the  place  at  about  noon,  and  later,  as  the  regiments 
came  up,  we  encamped  for  the  night.  The  15th  ushered  in  a 
turn  about  and  at  6.00  a.  m.  we  started  back  through  Funks- 
town,  reaching  Boonesborough  early  in  the  afternoon;  the 
baggage  trains  were  ordered  to  Berlin.  On  the  16th,  moving 
out  at  4.00  a.  m.,  having  been  roused  at  two  o'clock,  we 
marched  through  Crampton's  Gap  and  Burkittsville,  to  Ber 
lin,  getting  there  about  noon.  For  two  days  we  remained  in 
Berlin,  where  the  commissioned  officers  used  a  big  barn  as 
an  office  in  which  they  made  up  the  pay  and  muster  rolls  for 
May  and  June.  Here  the  men  were  pleasantly  surprised  by 
a  visit  from  many  members  of  the  46th  Massachusetts,  a 
nine  months'  organization  from  the  western  part  of  the 
state,  and  greetings,  hearty  and  many,  were  exchanged.  The 
Regiment,  with  the  Eighth  and  51st  Massachusetts,  had  vol 
unteered  to  serve  in  the  Gettysburg  Campaign,  though  thereby 
cutting  into  their  time  for  returning  home  and,  under  Gen- 
H.  S.  Briggs,  the  first  Colonel  of  the  Tenth,  had  arrived  at 
Berlin  in  time  to  thus  meet  old  friends.  The  19th  saw  us  in 
motion  again,  and  recrossing  the  Potomac  at  Berlin,  some  of 
the  bands  playing,  "Oh,  carry  me  back,"  while  General 
Sedgwick,  as  was  his  custom  when  we  were  crossing  or  passing 
a  difficult  place,  stood  at  the  further  end  of  the  bridge,  pre 
venting  confusion  and  hurrying  up  the  teams  which  might 
obstruct  the  way.  We  marched  through  Lovettsville,  where 
we  saw  the  same  old  flag  on  the  same  building  where  it  was 


214  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

nearly  a  year  before  and  the  ladies,  young  and  old,  were  waving 
"Godspeed"  to  the  soldiers.  At  Wheatland  we  halted  for 
the  night. 

We  were  once  more  going  over  the  route  taken  by  McClellan 
in  1862;  the  Army  had  had  three  other  commanders ;  nearly 
fifty  thousand  men  had  been  sacrificed,  and  apparently  we 
were  about  where  we  were  nine  months  before.  To  be  sure, 
the  South  was  being  terribly  worn  out  and  used  up,  but  the 
process  was  not  altogether  inspiriting  to  the  army.  We 
started  at  ten  in  the  forenoon  of  the  20th,  and  after  fifteen 
miles  of  marching  were  at  Union,  passing  through  Percy ville 
on  the  way.  The  21st  was  spent  in  camp,  whence  a  large 
delegation  of  officers  started  homeward  for  the  purpose  of 
recruiting.  The  officers,  commissioned  and  non-commissioned, 
thus  favored  were,  Captain  Wetherell  (C),  Lieutenants  Ross 
(E)  and  Moore  (K),  First  Sergeant  Paull  (I),  Sergeants  Cutler 
(F),  Harris  (C),  Dewey  (G),  Sherman  (B),  and  Corporal 
Hindley  (H),  and  everyone  wished  them  success  in  their  mis 
sion.  Marching  was  resumed  on  the  22d,  thus  passing  through 
Upperville  and  halting  near  Goose  Creek,  a  distance  of  about 
four  miles.  The  next  day,  the  23d,  we  started  early  and 
marched  through  Rectortown  and  Salem,  finding  blackberries 
abundant  on  the  way.  We  had  hoped  and  expected  to  stop 
a  few  hours  in  the  former  place,  but  the  cry  was  onward,  so 
we  kept  on  going  till  we  reached  Barbee's  Cross  Roads,  halting 
there  for  the  night.  We  were  in  the  northwest  part  of  Fau- 
quier  County  and  appeared  to  be  zig-zagging  on  our  way 
southward,  for  on  the  24th  we  went  almost  directly  westward 
towards  Markham  Station  and  then  came  back  to  Thumb 
River.  We  were  moving  along  the  eastern  spurs  of  the  Blue 
Ridge,  not  far  from  Ashby's  Gap.  Near  by  was  Cobbler's 
Mountain,  not  as  high,  perhaps,  as  many  but  exceedingly 
beautiful.  Under  the  mountain  lay  the  little  village  of  Spring 
field  and  it  would  not  be  strange  if  the  name  suggested  thoughts 
of  another  place  of  the  same  name  in  the  distant  northland. 
Never  had  we  seen  such  displays  of  the  running  blackberry 
and  the  men  fairly  gorged  themselves  with  the  luscious  fruit. 


JULY  29,  '63  NEW  COLORS  215 

The  effect  upon  the  health  of  the  men  was  marked  and  the 
surgeons  came  near  losing  their  vocation.  Camp  was  pitched 
near  Chester  Gap. 

We  were  roused  early  on  the  morning  of  the  25th  with  the 
understanding  that  we  would  start  at  five  o'clock,  but,  having 
eaten  a  hurried  breakfast,  we  were  kept  in  place  until  seven, 
when  we  marched  to  within  two  miles  of  Warrenton,  by  way 
of  Orlean.  The  First  Division  of  the  Sixth  Corps  camped  in 
and  about  the  town;  the  Second  Division  was  placed  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  old  Baptist  church  and  the  Third  was  in  the 
rear  of  the  other  two  and  guarded  the  flank.  The  Rappa- 
hannock  River  was  about  half  a  mile  away  and  the  vicinity 
was  becoming  classic  in  American  history.  The  army  of 
General  Pope  fought  over  this  ground,  and  near  here,  almost 
a  year  before,  General  McClellan  bade  his  old  soldiers  good-bye, 
as  he  passed  over  his  command  to  Burnside.  Owing  to  the 
scarcity  of  rations,  soldiers  were  obliged  to  seek  food  elsewhere 
than  from  the  Commissary  and  were  appalled  at  finding  coffee 
held  at  $4.00  per  pound,  sugar  $1.50  and  flour  $25.00  a  barrel, 
prices  that  were  simply  prohibitive  with  the  men  so  long 
a  time  from  pay  day.  It  was  much  cheaper  to  forage  and 
the  boys  found  the  opportunities  many.  Cattle  and  sheep 
fell  victims  to  the  needs  of  the  army  and  Uncle  Sam  was  the 
gainer  then,  though  it  would  be  difficult  to  tell  what  bills 
he  paid  in  subsequent  years.  With  the  26th  came  rations  and 
Sunday,  the  former  being  especially  welcome,  since  some 
were  actually  suffering  for  food.  Monday  and  Tuesday,  the 
27th  and  28th,  have  no  more  signal  record  than  those  of 
picking  blackberries  and  foraging.  The  stories  of  those  days, 
now  sleeping  in  dust -covered  diaries,  would  fill  volumes  if 
published,  and  however  innocent  they  may  have  seemed  to 
the  boys  themselves,  they  were,  none  the  less,  sources  of  great 
privation  to  the  victims. 

The  colors  of  the  Regiment,  presented  by  the  ladies  of 
Springfield,  had  fared  roughly  in  the  perils  of  war,  and  on  the 
29th  came  brand  new  ones  from  Boston.  The  same  agent 
who  brought  the  new  carried  back  the  old  to  the  keeping  of 


216  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

the  Commonwealth.  All  were  hoping  that  the  fresh  standards 
might  have  as  fortunate  a  fate  as  that  of  those  carried  by  us 
during  the  preceding  two  years.  A  rearranging  of  tents  and 
streets  brought  about  better  order.  While  we  remembered 
that  the  36th  New  York  left  us  while  we  were  hurrying  towards 
Gettysburg,  few  of  us  realized  how  many  other  two  years' 
regiments  had  been  going  home  in  similar  manner.  Also 
thousands  of  men,  enlisted  for  only  nine  months,  were  being 
discharged,  so  that  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  was  lessening  at 
a  serious  rate.  The  loyal  states  had  obeyed  the  orders  of  the 
President  with  reference  to  a  draft  and  in  some  of  them, 
particularly  New  York  city,  open  and  flagrant  opposition  had 
followed.  To  assist  the  local  authorities  in  successfully 
resuming  the  draft  in  August  it  was  deemed  necessary  to 
take  still  other  men  from  the  Potomac  Army.  To  this  end, 
the  37th  Massachusetts  from  our  own  brigade,  our  nearest 
neighbor,  so  to  speak,  was  detached  and  sent  towards  New 
York  on  the  forenoon  of  the  31st.  As  General  John  A.  Dix 
had  called  for  the  most  efficient  regiments  in  the  service,  all 
felt  the  selection  of  the  37th  to  be  a  great  tribute  to  its  drill 
and  discipline. 

WARRENTON 

Warrentown  became  corps  headquarters  on  the  1st  day  of 
August.  On  the  2d  day  we  moved  half  a  mile  or  so  to  a  high 
hill,  commanding  a  fine  view  of  the  town  of  Warrenton  and 
surrounding  country.  We  were  near  the  famous  Warrenton 
Sulphur  Springs,  sought  by  thousands  of  visitors  before  the 
war,  not  only  for  the  medical  properties  of  the  waters,  but  for 
the  social  privileges  thus  afforded.  While  the  White  Sulphur 
Springs,  further  westward,  near  Culpeper,  had  robbed  Warren 
ton  of  much  of  its  old-time  popularity  even  before  the  war, 
yet  there  were  many  who  would  have  come  hither  for  rest 
and  the  waters  were  it  not  for  the  struggle  now  waging, 
evidences  of  whose  fierceness  were  seen  on  every  hand.  The 
buildings  had  grown  to  be  sadly  out  of  repair  and  the  shift  - 
lessness  of  southern  places  was  apparent  everywhere.  Many 


AUG.  2-8,  '63  WARRENTON  217 

a  Yankee  boy  remarked  to  his  neighbor,  "If  some  northern 
man  with  means  would  only  take  hold  of  this  place,  what 
money  he  could  make!"  Meanwhile,  the  soldiers  were  par 
taking  of  the  waters  and  counting  themselves  summer  boarders 
at  the  Clifton  Springs  of  Virginia. 

Rival  armies  had  destroyed  the  last  vestige  of  a  fence  and 
the  country  lay  bare  and  hapless.  In  the  person  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Barten,  rector  of  the  Episcopal  church,  the  Northampton 
men  found  an  old  neighbor,  since  the  gentleman  had  left  that 
lovely  city  of  the  Connecticut  Valley  for  this  place  ere  the 
war  began.  The  soldiers  also  noticed  that  his  audiences  were 
made  up  largely  of  representatives  of  the  Sixth  Corps.  An 
other  indication  of  the  nearness  of  the  source  of  things  was 
the  presence  of  soft  bread  on  the  3d,  the  very  first  mouthful 
of  the  luxury  since  leaving  the  banks  of  the  Rappahannock. 
While  butter  would  have  added  to  its  flavor,  its  absence,  if 
not  made  good,  was  at  least  obviated  in  part  by  the  substitu 
tion  of  salt  pork.  Home  villages  were  also  suggested  in  the 
sounding  of  the  hours  by  the  town  clock  in  neighboring 
Warrenton.  An  inspection  by  companies  closed  the  day. 
The  4th  of  the  month  became  memorable  on  account  of  a  storm 
of  wind  and  rain,  unusual  even  for  that  country.  Tents  were 
blown  down,  the  officers'  as  well  as  those  of  the  enlisted  men. 
Headquarters  went  with  the  rest,  the  papers  and  documents 
that  were  there  suffering  the  common  woe.  Not  even  this 
excess  of  wrind  and  moisture  could  dampen  the  good  humor 
of  Captain  Bigelow,  who  laughed  over  his  demolished  habita 
tion,  thereby  affording  an  excellent  example  of  Mark  Tapley 
philosophy  for  his  drenched  associates. 

The  proximity  and  activity  of  guerrillas  rendered  necessary 
the  sending  out,  on  the  5th,  of  a  detail  of  a  hundred  officers 
and  men  to  patrol  the  vicinity  and  prevent  the  stealing  of 
property  and  the  capture  of  isolated  men.  Capt.  George 
Pierce,  who  had  suffered  from  the  resignation  of  the  officers 
after  Antietam,  returned  to  the  Regiment  and  duty  on 
August  8th,  having  been  reinstated  by  Governor  Andrew. 
If  the  Sixth  Corps  needed  rest  and  recuperation,  there  was 


218  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

certainly  opportunity  for  both  in  the  stay  near  Warrenton. 
For  days  one  observer  has  repeated  only  the  entry,  "  Remained 
in  camp  all  day."  Another,  for  the  10th,  observes  the  arrival 
of  the  sutler  with  two  heavily  loaded  wagons;  for  the  12th 
the  going  out  of  a  patrol  under  Captain  Bigelow  is  noticed, 
while  for  the  14th  the  capture  of  a  neighboring  signal  station 
and  the  resumption  of  drill  and  dress  parades  are  chronicled. 
Marching  orders,  as  usual  proving  false,  were  received  on  the 
15th  and  Captain  Gilmore  directed  another  patrol. 

Not  for  many  a  day  had  the  paymaster  been  seen,  but  on 
the  17th  he  gladdened  the  sight  of  the  impecunious  Regiment 
and  began  the  paying  off  for  four  months'  time,  so  that  again 
the  men  were  flush,  thereby  adding  interest  to  many  a  game 
of  cards  and  reducing  the  stock  of  the  sutler,  for  the  boys 
would  eat,  if  it  were  possible  to  obtain  his  luxuries.  While 
very  large  allotments  had  been  made  months  ago  for  the 
families  at  home,  after  this  payment  the  Quartermaster 
expressed  to  those  same  friends  and  others  the  large  sum  of 
$10,105.00  from  the  four  hundred  men  remaining  on  duty  in 
the  Regiment,  a  bright  example  of  thoughtfulness  —  and 
faithfulness  as  well.  The  First  Massachusetts  Cavalry,  which 
had  representatives  from  all  sections  of  the  Commonwealth, 
was  camping  near  Warrenton  and  pleasant  exchanges  of  visits 
were  common.  If  the  soldiers  had  been  observant  of  duties 
to  those  at  home  in  the  sending  of  their  wages  thither,  not 
less  attentive  were  those  very  loved  ones,  as  was  evident  on 
the  20th,  when  a  load  of  express  boxes  from  home  cheered 
both  heart  and  stomach.  Coming  through  in  the  brief  period 
of  three  or  four  days,  the  contents  were  in  fine  condition. 

Picket  and  patrol  duty  were  common  and  regular  during 
those  weeks.  Of  the  first  named  one  of  the  boys  writes  for 
the  22d,  "We  are  on  picket  today  and  are  having  gay  times. 
There  are  so  many  of  us  that  the  duty  is  not  hard,  and  the 
people  are  very  kind.  We  live  on  bread  and  milk  when  out 
here.  I  generally  go  to  the  house  of  Captain  Edwards,  who 
got  his  title  in  the  War  of  1812.  He  has  a  very  pretty  daughter. 
I  have  to  pay  twenty-five  cents  for  a  canteenful,  when  I  pay 


SEPT.  3,  '63  CAPT.  IVES  CAPTURED  219 

in  money,  but  they  prefer  to  receive  coffee,  sugar  and  such 
like."  Another  youth  writes  of  going  out  after  milk  and 
cucumbers,  rather  an  incongruous  association;  let  us  hope 
he  did  not  combine  them.  August  30th,  the  Regiment  was 
inspected  by  Gen.  H.  D.  Terry  who  expressed  gratification  at 
its  appearance  and  condition.  Of  continued  pleasures  on 
picket  one  truthful  diarist  observes,  "There  is  one  place 
where  the  boys  go  that  they  call  the  '  seven  stars '  because  one 
of  the  girls  wears  a  band  over  her  head  with  seven  silver  stars 
in  it.  In  the  family  are  the  man,  wife  and  two  daughters. 
They  are  all  'secesh;'  the  son  and  brother  is  one  of  the  guer 
rillas  who  infest  the  neighborhood.  The  girls  are  excellent 
company  and  are  good,  nice  girls."  Human  nature  is  the 
same  the  world  over;  while  this  soldier  would  have  shot  the 
guerrilla  on  sight,  he  found  much  to  commend  in  the  sisters. 
The  last  day  of  August  had  muster  for  pay  by  Colonel  Rogers 
of  the  Second  Rhode  Island,  while  General  Sedgwick  ordered 
a  strengthening  of  the  picket  line  and  a  readiness  to  march 
at  any  moment. 

September  continued  the  period  of  inactivity  prevailing 
through  August,  and  few  of  the  men  were  finding  any  fault 
thereat.  On  the  2d  day  the  camp  got  quite  a  scare  through  a 
misinterpretation  of  orders  by  Captain  Ives.  The  order  was 
that  men  having  loaded  guns  should  fire  them  between  one 
and  two  in  the  afternoon.  All  the  company  commanders  got 
their  orders,  Captain  Ives  among  them,  but  he  was  on  picket 
and  the  orderly  did  not  think  that  he  would  fire  off  guns 
there,  but  the  Captain  took  the  order  to  mean  his  men  as  well 
as  others.  Of  course  the  men  in  camp  supposed  that  firing 
on  the  picket  line  meant  an  attack  and  they  awaited  the 
orders  to  fall  in,  and  were  much  gratified  to  find  that  the  noise 
was  just  a  blunder.  Thursday,  Sept.  3d,  was  noteworthy  in 
regimental  annals  in  that  it  marks  the  capture  of  Capt.  Ralph 
O.  Ives  while  in  charge  of  the  picket  line.  The  story  goes  that 
he  dismounted  at  a  certain  house  and  went  in  to  get  a  drink  of 
milk.  While  there  a  party  of  guerrillas,  seven  in  number, 
made  a  dash  at  the  house  and  demanded  his  immediate 


220  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

surrender.  Under  the  circumstances,  there  was  nothing  left 
for  him  but  compliance  and  he  was  carried  off  to  Richmond. 
It  is  a  remarkable  record  that  only  two  officers  of  the  Regiment 
had  been  captured  before,  and  they,  Major  Miller  and  Lieu 
tenant  Wheeler,  were  grievously  wounded  at  Malvern  Hill. 
The  following  Sunday  a  letter  was  brought  to  the  picket  line 
by  a  citizen,  in  which  Captain  Ives  related  the  circumstances 
of  his  capture  and  stated  that  he  was  on  his  way  to  Richmond, 
that  he  was  well,  was  treated  well,  and  requested  that  his 
effects  be  sent  to  his  wife.  One  careful  recorder  of  those  days 
recalls  that  there  was  a  certain  Tenth  Regiment  private  in 
the  house  at  the  same  time,  and  he,  more  lucky  than  the 
Captain  and  being  in  the  good  graces  of  the  occupants, 
escaped  by  burying  himself  between  the  ticks  of  an  upstairs 
bed.  Captain  Ives  was  not  released  until  Sept.  19,  '64,  and 
in  the  interval  had  a  somewhat  varied  experience.  The 
Richmond  Examiner  of  Feb.  8,  '64,  printed  the  following, 
which  outlines  one  of  the  hardships  that  he  escaped,  for  it 
is  understood  that  because  of  the  Federal  Government 
receding  from  its  attitude,  the  penalty  wTas  not  enforced: 

RETALIATION 

In  the  summer  of  1863,  William  Waller  and  Schulte  Leach, 
two  Kentuckians,  and  highly  connected  in  their  state,  were 
commissioned  and  sent  from  Abingdon,  Va.,  into  Kentucky, 
to  recruit  a  company  for  the  Confederate  service.  They  were 
captured  at  Maysville,  tried  under  Order  No.  38  of  Burnside, 
the  barber,  (the  same  under  which  two  other  recruiting 
officers  had  been  condemned  and  shot),  convicted,  and  sen 
tenced  to  die  at  the  musket  point.  Their  sentence  was  sub 
sequently  commuted  to  hard  labor,  with  ball  and  chain,  dur 
ing  the  continuance  of  the  war.  They  are  now  at  Johnson's 
Island,  working  out  the  terms  of  their  sentence.  These  facts 
were  laid  before  the  Confederate  government  by  the  members 
of  the  Kentucky  delegation  now  in  Congress,  and  Friday, 
Major  Turner,  commandant  of  the  Libby  prison  post,  received 
an  order  from  the  Secretary  of  War,  consigning  two  of  the 
Federal  prisoners,  with  the  rank  of  captain,  to  a  situation 
identical  with  that  of  Messrs.  Waller  and  Leach.  The  two 
whom  the  fates  selected  from  the  ten  or  eleven  hundred 


FEB. -OCT.  '64  CAPTAIN  IVES  221 

Federal  officers,  were  Capt.  R.  C.  G.  Reed  of  the  Third  Ohio 
Cavalry,  and  Capt.  R.  O.  Ives  of  the  Tenth  Massachusetts 
Infantry,  both  good  representatives  of  the  eastern  and  western 
Yankee,  and  apparently  as  equal  to  the  task  of  breaking  stone 
as  stealing  a  negro.  The  pair  will  be  started  forward  today 
for  Salisbury,  N.  C.,  the  place  selected  for  their  future  field 
of  operations.  When  the  Federal  authorities  notify  this  gov 
ernment  that  the  officers  for  whom  they  are  held  are  released 
from  their  ignominious  position,  they  will  be  restored  to  the 
status  of  prisoners  of  war,  but  not  before. 

The  Official  Records  of  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  Series  II, 
Vols.  6  and  7,  have  several  items  bearing  on  this  case;  in  the 
first  instance  Vol.  6,  p.  945,  under  date  of  Feb.  12,  '64,  General 
Butler  asks  as  to  the  willingness  of  the  Confederates  to  ex 
change  Captain  Ives;  again,  p.  986,  Feb.  24,  General  Butler 
writes  the  Confederate  commissioner,  Col.  Robert  Ould,  inclos 
ing  a  letter  from  the  father  of  Captain  Waller,  setting  forth  that 
the  latter 's  confinement  in  irons,  etc.,  is  entirely  a  mistake,  and 
Butler  asks  if  the  irons  have  been  taken  off  Captain  Ives. 
Feb.  29th,  '64,  Commissary  General  of  Prisoners  W.  Hoffman, 
in  Washington  asks  General  Butler  if  Captains  Ives  and  Reed 
have  been  released  from  irons,  to  which  the  General  replies 
that  he  understands  they  are  not  in  irons  but  will  make 
necessary  inquiries.  Vol.  7  of  the  same  series,  p.  42,  has  a 
note  from  Butler  to  Ould  inquiring  in  what  manner  Ives  is 
held;  p.  413,  same  vol.,  has  a  letter  from  Commissioner  John 
E.  Mulford  to  General  Butler,  stating  that  no  specific  answers 
have  been  received  concerning  the  manner  of  Ives's  retention 
but  he  thinks  a  special  exchange  can  be  effected;  this  under 
date  of  June  25,  '64;  p.  672  of  same  vol.,  Aug.  23d,  '64,  Major 
Mulford  says  he  has  arranged  for  the  exchange  of  Captain  Ives 
for  Captain  Waller;  apparently  this  was  the  arrangement 
which  sent  Captain  Ives  north,  but  the  final  entry  in  this 
series,  same  vol.,  p.  927,  Oct.  6,  '64,  would  leave  us  to  infer 
that  Captain  Waller  wTas  not  sent  for  our  Captain. 

The  capture  of  Captain  Ives  gave  the  men  a  nervous  feeling 
and  "Will  the  Rebs  get  me"  was  a  mental  inquiry  of  many 
a  man  as  he  went  on  picket  thereafter.  At  any  rate  he  had 


222  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

had  his  warning  as  to  tarrying  long  at  houses.  Sargent  of 
Company  K  records  for  the  7th,  "The  guerrillas  came  down 
on  us  last  night.  They  captured  the  signal  station  on  Watery 
Mountain  and  might  have  got  some  of  the  pickets,  if  I  had 
not  received  warning  that  Mosby  was  coming  that  night, 
thanks  to  Captain  Edwards' s  daughter.  I  am  satisfied  that 
her  husband  is  one  of  the  guerrillas."  On  the  12th  there  were 
intercompany  foot  races,  in  which  Andrew  Hazelton  of  Com 
pany  E  won  first  prize  and  Edward  Reed  of  Company  K, 
second.  Just  after  the  races  there  came  one  of  the  tornadoes 
characteristic  of  the  section,  which  blew  down  all  of  the  tents 
from  that  of  the  private  to  the  General's,  not  sparing  even 
the  hospital  and  there  were  five  or  six  ill  therein  at  the  time. 
During  the  later  days  of  August,  the  Confederate  leaders 
had  mooted  the  question  of  sending  aid  to  Bragg  in  his  western 
campaign  against  Rosecrans.  It  was  finally  decided  that 
Longstreet,  with  the  divisions  of  Hood  and  McLaws,  should 
go  to  the  relief  of  Bragg.  To  this  end  the  first  train  appeared 
at  Louisa  Court  House  Sept.  9th,  to  begin  the  transportation, 
but  so  poor  was  the  railroad  service  it  was  not  until  several 
days  had  passed  that  the  troops  were  finally  embarked  upon 
their  long  and  tedious  journey.  On  the  12th  of  the  month, 
Meade  learned  that  only  Pickett's  Division  of  Longstreet 's 
Corps  was  still  with  Lee,  and  the  Union  general  accordingly 
ordered  an  advance,  the  Second  Corps  taking  the  lead, 
followed  by  the  others.  It  was  this  movement  that  caused 
the  order,  on  the  12th,  for  the  Regiment  to  be  ready  to  start 
at  short  notice.  The  next  two  days  were  spent  in  wondering 
what  was  up  and  the  cause  of  the  artillery  firing  that  was 
distinctly  heard  towards  the  southwest,  this  activity  being 
deemed  necessary  lest  Lee  should  send  still  other  troops  to 
the  discomfiture  of  Rosecrans.  It  was  not,  however,  until 
half-past  five  of  the  loth  that  the  Regiment  left  Warrenton 
and,  after  maching  five  miles,  camped  for  the  night  about 
one  mile  from  the  White  Sulphur  Springs  which,  just  before 
the  War,  was  aiming  to  become  the  Saratoga  of  that  part 
of  the  South. 


SEPT.  16,  '63  COLONEL  EUSTIS  PROMOTED  223 

On  the  16th,  after  a  hearty  breakfast  of  coffee  and  hard-tack, 
we  were  ready  to  start  at  6.00  a.  m.  for  Culpeper  Court  House. 
On  our  way  we  passed  through  the  famed  watering  place, 
noting  the  ruins  of  the  great  hotel,  destroyed  a  year  before, 
when  the  Second  .Bull  Run  Campaign  was  on.  It  must  have 
been  an  extensive,  elegant  and  commodious  edifice,  and  on 
its  capacious  piazzas,  doubtless,  were  discussed  the  very 
questions  we  had  been  trying  to  solve  in  bloody  battle  for 
the  last  two  years  and  more.  The  waters  there  are  so  impreg 
nated  with  sulphur  that  the  odor  of  over  ripe  eggs  is  smelled 
afar.  The  place  itself  is  about  seven  miles  southwest  of 
Warrenton  and  on  the  direct  road  from  that  town  to  Culpeper. 
We  crossed  the  Rappahannock  on  a  corduroy  bridge  con 
structed  by  our  forces,  passing  Jefferson  City  on  our  way, 
fording  the  Rappahannock,  then  about  two  and  a  half  feet 
deep,  and  through  Eldorado,  which  had  a  saw  and  grist  mill 
and  two  or  three  buildings  besides,  otherwise  we  saw  little 
evidence  of  human  habitations  on  our  wray.  After  a  march 
of  nearly  or  quite  twenty  miles  we  reached  Stonehouse 
Mountain  at  about  8.00  p.  m.  and  here  encamped,  being  about 
four  miles  west  of  Culpeper.  The  paymaster  had  followed  us 
and  was  ready  to  pay  off  the  brigade  for  July  and  August. 

Here  we  received  the  news  that  Colonel  Eustis  had  become 
a  full  Brigadier  General  and  that  the  command  of  the  Regi 
ment  devolved  upon  Lieutenant  Colonel  Parsons,  though  both 
officers  had  been  acting  in  those  capacities  for  several  months. 
The  17th  opened  at  the  early  hour  of  three  o'clock  with  orders 
to  form  in  battle  line,  muskets  in  hand.  Evidently  we  were 
considerably  nearer  the  enemy  here  than  we  were  in  Warren- 
ton.  The  guerrillas  were  certainly  in  evidence  and  they  took 
a  shot  at  General  Wright  of  the  First  Division  on  the  18th, 
luckily  not  hitting  him.  The  19th  welcomed  the  paymaster 
to  the  Regiment,  the  preceding  days  having  been  devoted  to 
the  other  parts  of  the  brigade.  In  the  afternoon  we  moved 
a  distance  of  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  and  arranged  for  a 
permanent  camp.  Tuesday,  the  22d,  brought  to  us  eight 
davs1  rations,  which  we  had  orders  to  carry  on  our  backs — not 


224  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

an  attractive  prospect  by  any  means;  we  hoped  that  the 
march  would  not  begin  until  some  of  the  rations  were  con 
sumed. 

Just  as  soon  as  the  promotion  of  Colonel  Eustis  was  an 
nounced,  measures  were  taken  to  indicate  our  appreciation 
of  his  ability  and  our  pleasure  at  its  recognition.  To  this  end 
three  hundred  dollars  was  raised  for  the  purchase  of  sword, 
sash  and  belt,  an  amount  which  might  have  been  much  larger 
were  it  not  that  the  enlisted  men  were  allowed  to  give  only 
twenty-five  cents  each.  Also,  in  these  days,  another  sub 
scription  paper  was  circulated  through  the  army  for  the 
purpose  of  securing  a  memorial  for  General  McClellan,  the 
amounts  subscribed  being  limited:  ten  cents  for  the  rank 
and  file ;  fifteen  cents  for  sergeants ;  one  dollar  for  lieutenants ; 
a  dollar  and  a  half  for  captains ;  majors  and  lieutenant  colonels, 
three  dollars;  colonels,  five  dollars;  brigadier  generals,  ten 
and  major  generals,  twenty  dollars.  The  proposition  was 
popular  in  the  Tenth  Regiment  and  the  boys  were  ready  to 
chip  in,  few  having  forgotten  the  popular  organizer  of  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac.* 

We  had  not  had  to  carry  on  our  backs,  as  yet,  the  heavy 
rations  of  the  22d,  but  on  the  24th  we  were  warned  that  extra 
baggage  must  be  packed  so  that  it  might  be  placed  on  the 
wagons.  A  detail  of  seventy-five  men  went  out  after  forage 
on  the  29th,  and  General  Sedgwick  inspected  the  camp.  The 
month  passed  and  we  had  the  privilege  of  consuming  our 
large  issue  of  rations  right  where  we  drew  them. 

RAILROAD  GUARDING 

October  was  ushered  in  by  a  night  march,  beginning  at 
nightfall,  passing  through  Culpeper  and  marching  in  rain  and 
mud  to  Rappahannock  Station  where  we  left  the  Third  Bri- 


*Curious  to  know  what  came  of  this  plan  to  present  the  General 
with  a  token  of  appreciation,  and  not  finding  any  satisfaction  in  the 
books,  a  letter  was  addressed  to  Geo.  B.  McClellan,  Jr.,  Mayor  of  New 
York,  to  which  the  following  reply  was  received : 

"I  have  a  distinct  recollection  that  such  a  fund  was  started,  but 
before  it  got  fairly  under  way,  it  was  discontinued." 


OCT.  3-6,  '63  CATLETT'S  STATIOX  225 

gade,  while  we  pushed  on  until  8.00  a.  m.  of  the  2d,  when  we 
halted  for  breakfast.  Time  was  given  for  its  preparation  but 
it  was  a  dreary  task,  so  heavy  was  the  rainfall,  though  with  our 
backs  to  the  storm  and  with  ponchos  over  us,  we  made  a 
bluff  at  cheerfulness.  While  in  this  cheerless  attitude,  more 
than  enough  trains  to  carry  us  passed  along  the  track  empty, 
but  our  two  brigades,  set  to  guard  the  track,  were  to  use  our 
feet  and  legs  in  reaching  our  destination.  The  trains  ran  out 
to  the  army  loaded  but  returned  burdenless;  somehow  it 
didn't  seem  just  right  to  us.  After  a  while  we  halted  again  at 
Bealton  Station,  a  dreary  place,  with  not  a  fence  rail  in  sight, 
but  better  counsels  prevailed  and  we  marched  further  where 
we  found  a  field  with  rails  in  plenty  and  here  we  halted  for 
the  night  at  about  four  o'clock,  but  it  was  after  dark  when 
the  rain  ceased. 

With  the  advent  of  the  3d  came  the  sun  once  more  and  it 
cheered  the  Regiment  as  it  marched  towards  Catlett's  Station, 
where  dinner  was  eaten,  and  the  First  Brigade  with  the 
Division  General  was  left ;  again  advancing,  Bristoe  Station 
was  reached  at  sunset  and  glad  were  the  men  over  the  prospect 
of  rest ;  they  were  too  weary  to  even  lay  out  a  camp,  deferring 
that  task  until  the  morrow.  The  4th  brought  out  the  features 
of  the  camp,  which  was  all  the  more  easily  made  because  of 
the  excellent  material  left  by  the  32d  Massachusetts,  the 
regiment  preceding  ours.  The  boys  from  the  Bay  State  were 
good  housekeepers.  Building  was  the  order  of  the  day  and 
to  help  this  along  five  wagons  went  to  Manassas,  on  the  5th, 
for  lumber  to  construct  hospital  and  headquarters  tents. 
Guerrillas  were  all  about  us,  as  was  evident  when  a  straggling 
member  of  the  Tenth  was  fired  upon,  warning  him  to  keep 
closely  in  the  ranks.  Oct.  6th,  a  squad  of  men  went  over  to 
Brentsville,  shire  town  of  Prince  William  County,  to  get 
bricks  for  the  General's  quarters.  They  secured  them,  but 
at  the  expense  of  the  buildings  themselves.  Wanton  destruc 
tion  of  property,  public  and  private,  is  one  of  the  sad  features 
of  war  everywhere.  The  documentary  accumulations  of  more 
than  two  hundred  years  had  been  torn  out  of  their  files  and 


226  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

scattered  over  the  floors  of  the  buildings  to  the  depth  of 
several  feet.  Many  of  them  were  exceedingly  curious  as  well 
as  valuable,  but  all  became  sacrifices  to  the  spirit  of  mischief 
inherent  in  the  best  of  us.  Some  of  the  men  carried  off 
mementos  with  them.  Only  three  or  four  families  continued 
here,  the  remainder  having  gone  further  into  Dixie. 

Few  officers,  even,  knew  why  the  army  was  thus  stringing 
along  the  railroads  and,  in  a  variety  of  ways,  evidencing 
unusual  activity.  Our  Third  Division  was  taking  care  of 
the  Virginia  Midland  Railroad  from  Rappahannock  Station 
to  Bristoe,  and  though  we  were  comfortably  encamped  there 
was  no  feeling  of  constancy  in  it.  With  the  10th,  we  received 
eight  days'  rations  again.  Evidently  something  wrong  was 
brewing.  At  parade  on  the  llth,  a  letter  from  the'Pelham 
Sunday  School  was  read  to  the  men;  what  a  touch  of  home 
was  in  the  very  thought!  While  we  had  thus  been  marching, 
building  and  guarding,  the  leaders  of  the  opposing  forces  had 
been  making  moves  in  the  game  of  war,  quite  unknown  to 
their  loyal  followers.  To  begin  with,  Sept.  24th,  the  Eleventh 
and  Twelfth  Corps,  under  Howard  and  Slocum  respectively, 
had  been  ordered  to  the  relief  of  Chattanooga.  Learning  this, 
General  Lee,  reckoning  on  a  corresponding  weakening  of  the 
Union  ranks,  determined  on  an  offensive  movement  which 
should  drive  Meade  back  from  the  line  of  the  Rapidan  River. 
With  this  purpose  in  view,  he  attempted  to  turn  Meade 's 
flank  and  so  interpose  himself  between  the  latter  and  Washing 
ton,  thus  in  his  own  language  "Swap  Queens,"  i.  e.,  he  might 
in  this  manner  capture  Washington  while  Richmond  would 
fall  an  easy  prey  to  Meade;  but  to  so  rash  a  movement,  Jeffer 
son  Davis  would,  at  no  time,  assent.  At  any  rate,  if  he  could 
keep  the  Union  forces  on  the  anxious  seat,  as  it  were,  this 
would  permit  him  to  send  yet  more  of  his  own  army  to  the 
grievously  pressed  Confederate  forces  in  the  West. 

RAPPAHANNOCK  STATION 

Accordingly  Lee  crossed  the  Rapidan  on  the  9th  of  October 
and  passed  by  way  of  Madison  Court  House  quite  to  the  right 


OCT.  10-23,  '63  RAPPAHANNOCK  STATION  227 

of  Meade,  his  cavalry  as  usual  proving  exceedingly  effective. 
Meade's  first  knowledge  of  this  movement  was  an  attack,  on 
the  10th,  at  James  City,  Stuart   driving  in  a  portion  of  Kil- 
patrick's  Cavalry  as  far  as  Culpeper.     Realizing  that  his  right 
was   already  turned,    Meade   began   a   retrograde   movement 
across  the  Rappahannock.     Lee  reached  Culpeper  on  the  llth, 
only  to  find  that  Meade  had  moved  behind  the  Rappahannock 
some  hours  before.     Cavalry  encounters  were  constant,  but 
no   set   engagements.      On    Monday,   the    12th,    finding  that 
Meade  had  been  too  quick  for  him  and  that  his  first  turning 
movement  had  failed,  he  determined  to  attempt  the  reaching 
of  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Railroad,  north  of  the  Rappa 
hannock;     in    this    he    almost    succeeded    through    Meade's 
inability    to    read    his    adversary's    purposes.      Meade    now 
started  southward,  while  Lee  was  advancing  to  the  northward. 
An  encounter  at   White   Sulphur  Springs  showed  Meade  iri 
an  instant  what  the  real  purpose  of  Lee  was  and  the  further 
move  of  his  troops  towards  Culpeper  was  stayed.     On  the 
13th,  both  armies  were  on  the  north  side  of  the  Rappahannock, 
and  then   ensued   a   race   of  the    Rebels   and   Federals,    Lee 
endeavoring  to  pass  to  the  rear  of  Meade,  the  latter  deter 
mined  to  prevent.     Of  the  battle  of  Bristoe  Station  and  other 
lesser  engagements  it  is  no  part  of  our  history  to  treat,  but  the 
country  about  Warrenton,  so  often  marched  over,  was  again 
trodden  by  rival  feet,  the  tracks  being  more  or  less  bloody, 
and  it  was  as  a  small  part  of  this  "Campaign  of  Manoeuvres'' 
(Swinton)  that  the  Tenth  found  itself  in  the  mid-part  of  the 
month  of  October. 

Oct.  loth,  the  Regiment,  so  one  of  the  men  records, 
"marched  all  night  last  night,  but  stopped  for  breakfast  this 
morning,  and  let  the  rest  of  the  troops  go  by,  while  we  guarded 
the  rear.  Though  we  saw  some  Rebel  cavalry,  we  were  not 
troubled."  We  left  Bristoe  Station  at  4.00  a.  m.  and  marched 
as  far  as  Warrenton,  where  we  formed  in  line  of  battle,  to 
cover  the  retreat  of  our  forces.  We  waited  here  until  our 
Corps  came  up,  when  we  started  again  and  at  o.OO  a.  m.  of 
Wednesdav,  the  14th,  were  at  Kettle  Run,  about  a  mile  and 


228  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

a  half  from  where  we  started  in  the  morning.  We  packed  up 
at  daylight  of  the  14th,  and  moved  to  the  rear.  There  was 
cannonading  all  day;  we  marched  through  Bristoe  Station, 
Manassas  Junction,  and  reached  the  fortifications  in  Center- 
ville  at  about  3.00  p.  m.,  where  the  army  seemed  to  be  con 
centrating.  Our  calculations  for  a  winter's  stay  in  Bristoe 
Station  appeared  to  have  been  blighted. 

The  next  day  we  marched  about  two  miles  from  Centreville 
and  about  one  from  Chantilly  and  threw  up  rifle  pits  and 
breastworks.  Lee  had  been  thwarted  in  his  efforts  to  cover 
Bull  Run  battle  field  first.  The  boys  were  counting  on  a 
Third  Bull  Run  with  the  other  fellows  running  this  time. 
Capt.  Fred.  Barton,  who  had  been  on  the  staff  of  General 
Eustis,  went  to  Fairfax  Station  to  see  his  father  off  for  home, 
the  latter  having  been  visiting  the  Captain.  On  his  way  back 
to  the  brigade  he  was  captured  by  guerrillas  under  Mosby, 
and  taken  to  Richmond,  whence  he  did  not  emerge  until  the 
29th  of  the  following  February.  While  there  was  plenty  of 
firing  heard,  none  of  it  seemed  to  be  near  us.  The  16th  was 
a  rainy  day  and  quiet  prevailed,  but  no  time  was  lost,  since 
fortifications  were  thrown  up.  Some  of  the  boys  with  memo 
ries  and  observation  recalled  that  they  were  about  where 
Generals  Stevens  and  Kearney  were  killed  in  September,  '62. 
The  17th  brought  back  the  37th  Massachusetts  from  its  tour 
of  duty  in  New  York  City  and  we  were  pleased  to  have  the 
old  friends  in  the  brigade  once  more. 

On  the  19th  the  Regiment  advanced  to  Gainesville,  where 
skirmishing  with  the  enemy  was  in  progress,  and  we  were 
ordered  out  and  on  again.  Soon,  however,  we  were  halted 
and  sent  back  to  the  pines  for  a  few  hours  at  least,  we  hoped. 
As  usual  we  had  marched  in  the  rain  a  greater  part  of  the  day, 
though  it  had  stopped  before  we  reached  Gainesville.  As  we 
were  trying  to  make  ourselves  comfortable  for  the  night,  the 
enemy  opened  with  shot  and  shell,  informing  us  that  there 
might  be  work  for  us  forthwith.  Packing  hastily,  we  were 
soon  double-quicking  up  the  road,  though  not  a  very  great 
ways,  for  we  were  soon  halted,  and  no  further  alarm  arising, 


OCT.  24,  '63  DRAW  CLOTHING  229 

we  returned  to  camp  and  rest.  The  cause  of  our  trouble  was 
the  throwing  of  a  few  missiles  by  the  Rebels  into  the  camps 
of  the  Third  Corps.  Oct.  20th,  we  moved  to  New  Baltimore, 
reaching  there  at  about  3.00  p.  m.  Our  foragers  were  soon  at 
work,  the  ground  being  quite  familiar  to  us,  and  ere  long 
returned  with  convincing  indication  of  the  continued  preva 
lence  of  mutton  in  the  vicinity.  Here  tents  were  pitched, 
every  one,  generals  and  all,  evidently  thinking  we  were  to 
stay  awhile.  Alas  for  military  expectations,  for  we  were  soon 
up  and  off  again,  this  time  to  devoted  Warrenton,  so  often 
named  in  these  and  almost  all  annals  of  regiments  that  served 
with  the  Army  of  the  Potomac.  It  was  after  dark  when  we 
started,  and  a  night  march,  through  water  courses  and  mud 
holes,  with  all  sorts  of  ups  and  downs,  is  very  far  from  fun. 
It  appeared  that  the  place  was  full  of  the  enemy  when  we  were 
at  New  Baltimore,  but  a  dash  of  our  cavalry  had  driven  the 
Rebels  out,  hence  our  four  miles'  march  to  this  point,  some 
what  out  of  the  village  and  very  near  our  camping  place 
before  starting  for  Culpeper,  several  weeks  before. 

We  were  not  in  the  least  averse  to  the  orders  to  pitch  our 
tents,  the  next  morning,  and  with  the  grounds  nicely  cleaned 
up,  we  hoped  the  stay  would  be  longer  than  had  recently  been 
the  rule.  The  22d  saw  us  changing  our  position,  throwing  out 
pickets,  and  for  the  third  time  getting  ready  for  another  stop. 
So  often  did  we  fetch  up  at  this  point  or  near  it,  that  we  began 
to  count  it  homelike.  With  the  23d  came  orders  to  be  ready  to 
move  at  a  moment's  notice,  so  we  were  not  fixed  for  the 
winter  yet.  Lee  had  not  ceased  from  his  wanderings,  and 
cavalry  encounters  prompted  both  sides  to  vigilance.  Still 
we  were  in  the  same  place  on  the  24th,  when  we  drew  clothing 
and  blankets;  a  great  privilege,  since  the  approach  of  winter 
rendered  heavier  wear  necessary.  However,  do  the  best  we 
might,  we  were  far  from  comfortable.  The  temperature  of 
this  latitude  in  late  October  felt  quite  too  low  for  the  meagre 
protection  of  shelter  tents  and  mere  camp  fires,  where  chilling 
winds  froze  our  backs  and  suffocating  smoke  from  green  wood 
filled  our  eyes  with  tears.  At  the  same  time  camp  and  other 


230  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

duties  were  performed  and  fuel  was  brought  by  teams  from 
a  distance.  The  careful  annalist  says,  "We  drew  beans  on 
the  29th,  a  rare  ration  in  these  times."  Hardships  surely 
multiply  when  the  Massachusetts  man  is  so  long  separated 
from  his  beans!  Of  this  same  October  day  another  writes, 
"I  went  up  on  Watery  Mountain  just  to  look  around.  There 
is  a  signal  station  on  the  top  of  the  mountain  whose  officers 
are  pleasant  and  gentlemanly.  They  are  willing  to  loan  their 
glasses  and  to  point  out  the  places  of  interest.  The  Rebs 
are  in  plain  sight,  though  ten  or  twelve  miles  away.  The 
right  of  their  army  is  at  Stafford  Court  House,  the  left  at 
Beverly  Ford."  October  went  out  with  a  muster  for  pay  by 
Lieut.  Col.  George  L.  Montague  of  the  37th  Massachusetts. 

Save  for  its  last  day,  the  first  week  of  November  was  quite 
uneventful,  varied  by  little  more  than  brigade,  division,  and 
finally,  corps  reviews  and  the  welcome  distribution  of  soft 
bread  rations.  On  the  (ith  day  new  rations,  with  those  on 
hand,  made  up  the  late  regulation  eight  days'  supply  and 
orders  came  to  be  ready  to  march  in  the  morning.  The 
manoeuvres  in  which  we  had  played  our  part  for  the  last 
month  were  now  approaching  an  end,  with  the  honors,  such 
as  they  were,  in  the  possession  of  Lee.  While  he  had  been 
falling  back,  the  advance  of  Meade  was  extremely  cautious 
and  he  had  delayed  several  days  to  repair  the  Orange  and 
Alexandria  Railroad.  Now,  on  the  7th  of  November,  the 
Confederates  were  disposed  along  the  north  bank  of  the 
Rappahannock,  the  fortifications  near  the  Station  having 
been  built  by  our  own  forces.  These  works,  held  by  2,000 
men  of  Early's  Division,  Ewell's  Corps,  were  carried  by  the 
First  Division  of  the  Sixth  Corps  and  over  1,500  prisoners 
with  four  guns  and  eight  standards  were  taken;  our  own  loss 
was  about  three  hundred  killed  and  wounded. 

The  part  borne  by  the  Tenth  Regiment  in  this  engagement 
was  not  prominent,  yet  it  did  all  that  it  could,  all  that  it"  was 
directed  to  do.  Awakened  at  four  o'clock,  we  left  Warrenton 
at  seven,  marching  towards  Rappahannock  Station.  The 
Fifth  and  Sixth  Corps,  constituting  the  right  wing,  under  the 


Nov.  7,  '63  RAPPAHANNOCK  STATIOX  231 

command  of  General  Sedgwick,  Meade  being  with  the  left 
wing,  advanced  upon  the  works.  Skirmishers  were  thrown 
out  and  the  enemy  was  soon  driven  into  the  fortifications 
against  which  the  artillery  fire  was  speedily  directed.  Our 
special  duty  was  to  support  a  battery,  having  been  detached 
with  the  Seventh  Massachusetts  from  our  own  brigade  to 
serve  with  Shaler's  (First).  Here  we  lost  two  men  mortally 
wounded,  both  of  Company  I,  Simeon  P.  Smith  of  Holyoke 
and  Joseph  lingerer  of  West  Springfield.  The  former  had  his 
left  knee  shattered  and  died  at  ten  o'clock  at  night,  though 
his  coolness  and  nerve  ought  to  have  carried  him  through t 
since,  when  wounded,  he  used  his  handkerchief  and  bayonet 
to  form  a  tourniquet  to  stop  the  flow  of  blood,  and  then  with 
his  pocket  knife  finished  the  amputation  of  his  leg.  lingerer 
lost  all  the  fingers  of  his  left  hand  and  the  first  three  of  his 
right,  while  a  piece  of  flesh  the  size  of  a  man's  hand  was  torn 
from  his  left  thigh.  He  died  the  10th  of  Dec.  following.  The 
horse  of  Adjutant  Brewster  received  a  shot  in  the  neck,  near 
the  breast. 

Just  before  sundown,  the  Tenth  was  moved  to  the  right  to 
support  Battery  C  of  the  First  Rhode  Island  artillery  which 
did  most  excellent  work,  every  shot  apparently  bursting 
over  the  fort  or  on  the  parapet.  While  we  had  no  part  in  the 
final  charge,  just  at  sunset,  of  the  Third  Brigade,  First  Divi 
sion,  we  could  do  our  share  in  exulting,  since  the  leader  was 
the  brave  Gen.  David  A.  Russell,  first  Colonel  of  the  Seventh 
Massachusetts  of  our  own  brigade.  It  is  claimed  by  some 
that  the  Second  Brigade,  Third  Division,  our  own.  was  at 
first  designated  for  this  assault.  If  so,  while  we  gained  less 
fame  by  not  charging,  some  lives  were  surely  saved.  Some 
of  the  prisoners  were  of  the  famous  Louisiana  Tigers,  a  fine 
lot  of  men  physically,  and  as  they  marched  by,  in  the  best  of 
humor,  some  of  them  remarked,  "We're  going  to  see  Father 
Abraham  and  get  some  soft  bread."  While  all  this  was  going 
on  upon  the  right,  the  Union  left  was  successfully  engaging 
the  Confederate  right  at  Kelly's  Ford  and  the  day  closed 
with  Lee  moving  toward  the  Rapidan,  which  he  crossed  that 


232  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

night  and  on  the  morning  of  the  8th.  For  our  own  part,  we 
were  content  to  rest,  though  at  first  the  order  not  to  build 
fires  augered  ill  for  our  coffee,  but  this  instruction  was  later 
countermanded  so  that  a  speedy  requisition  was  made  on  the 
neighboring  fences  and  the  Regiment  felt  more  comfortable. 
The  days  that  followed  were  more  active  than  bloody, 
there  being  some  marching  or  other  duty  almost  constantly. 
On  the  morning  of  the  8th  we  moved  a  mile  to  the  left,  and 
in  the  afternoon  were  sent  across  the  river  on  picket.  The 
9th  we  recrossed  the  Rappahannock  and  marched  to  Kelly's 
Ford  to  join  our  brigade,  Shaler's  having  stopped  at  Rappa 
hannock  Station.  The  10th,  a  heavy  detail  of  the  Regiment 
went  to  Warrenton  Junction  in  charge  of  a  supply  train,  and 
on  the  llth  said  detail  returned.  The  12th  saw  us  leaving 
Kelly's  Ford  at  daylight  to  join  the  Sixth  Corps  which  was 
occupying  an  advanced  position. 

BRANDY  STATION 

We  reached  Brandy  Station  early  in  the  afternoon  and 
encamped  on  the  farm  of  John  Minor  Botts,  a  southern  man 
long  conspicuous  for  his  unyielding  Union  sentiments.  He 
had  already  suffered  in  a  Richmond  prison  for  his  opinions, 
but  nothing  swerved  him  from  his  unalterable  loyalty.  As 
far  back  as  the  days  of  John  Quincy  Adams  in  Congress,  he 
had  supported  the  Old  Man  Eloquent  in  the  latter's  contest 
for  the  right  of  petition.  Now  his  farm  was  overrun  by  the 
armies  of  both  North  and  South  and  a  considerable  portion 
of  it  dug  up  for  rifle  pits  and  breastworks.*  Mr.  Botts  is 
said  to  have  claimed  ownership  to  six  hundred  miles  of  fence 
when  we  went  upon  his  plantation,  but  a  week  later  he  could 
not  have  said  that  truthfully,  for  his  fences  were  burned  and 
his  trees  felled,  but  his  well-known  Unionism  secured  adequate 
compensation  from  the  Federal  Quartermaster  General. 

That  day  (12th)  was  also  notable  in  that  then  arrived  the 

*In  1866  appeared  his  "History  of  the  Rebellion"  a  most  acrid 
setting  forth  of  the  views  and  ends  of  the  leaders  in  secession.  He 
died  in  Culpeper,  January  7,  1869. 


Nov.  12,  '63  CHAPLAIN  PERKINS  233 

new  Chaplain,  the  Rev.  Francis  B.  Perkins,  who  came  to  us 
from  Montague.  Orders  were  received  to  make  ourselves 
comfortable  for  nine  or  ten  days.  Regardless  of  the 
understanding  that  rations  were  supposedly  in  the  possession 
of  the  men,  sufficient  to  last  several  days,  the  13th  found 
many  of  them  foodless;  such  was  the  improvidence  of 
some,  no  care  on  their  own  part  would  ever  keep  them  sup 
plied.  All  about  us  were  remains  of  the  Rebel  camps  which 
had  been  developed  to  the  extent  of  making  them  winter 
quarters,  and  when  they  left  it  was  in  such  a  hurry  they  did 
not  carry  off  many  of  their  belongings,  so  that  it  was  no 
unusual  sight  for  Union  enlisted  men  to  go  strutting  about  in 
the  uniforms  of  Confederate  officers  of  high  rank.  It  is  said 
that  General  Lee  was  conducting  a  brilliant  review  when  we 
attacked  him  on  the  7th.  Heavy  cannonading  and  an  issue 
of  clothing  were  noted  on  the  15th,  while  the  16th  chronicled 
an  inspection  by  Brigade  Inspector  Young,  and  a  prayer  at 
dress  parade  by  Chaplain  Perkins,  the  first  we  had  had  in 
many  a  day.  During  those  days  busy  hands  had  been  at 
work  on  the  railroad,  and  on  the  18th  trains  were  once  more 
running  to  Culpeper.  The  paymaster  came  on  the  19th  and, 
as  ever,  was  a  welcome  visitor,  though  he  did  not  pay  our 
Regiment  until  the  22d.  For  the  edification  of  certain  dis 
tinguished  British  officers,  there  was  a  review  of  the  entire 
Corps  on  the  20th  by  General  Sedgwick.  The  23d  was  Thanks 
giving  day  at  home,  but  no  attention  was  paid  to  the  fact 
in  our  camps;  there  was  too  much  else  to  attend  to.  General 
Eustis  inspected  us,  paying  special  attention  to  the  condition 
of  the  shoes  of  the  men.  We  were  ordered  to  be  ready  to 
move  on  the  24th  at  an  early  hour,  clothing  and  provisions 
having  been  issued  to  the  men,  but  the  morning  was  stormy 
and  the  advance  was  postponed.  For  the  25th,  orders  were 
issued  to  be  ready  to  move  at  daylight  with  five  days'  rations. 
Lieut.  Terry  S.  Noble  of  Company  K  received  his  discharge 
and  started  home  that  dav. 


234  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

MINE  RUN 

The  railroad,  destroyed  by  the  Confederates  in  the  "Cam 
paign  of  Manoeuvres,"  having  been  repaired  and  the  bridge 
at  Rappahannock  Station  rebuilt,  and  the  whole  northern 
press  clamoring  for  some  forward  movement,  General  Meade 
determined  to  take  advantage  of  Lee's  lessened  forces,  Long- 
street  being  in  the  West,  and  the  considerably  dispersed 
condition  of  his  two  remaining  corps,  Hill's  and  Ewell's,  and, 
moving  upon  him  suddenly,  drive  him  much  nearer  Rich 
mond,  even  if  he  did  not  overcome  the  Rebel  chief  completely. 
Again  the  plans  were  excellent  and  ought  to  have  succeeded, 
but  trusted  lieutenants  were  slow  and  the  configuration  of 
rivers  and  country  was  not  always  as  pictured,  hence  there 
was  another  case  of  "great  expectations"  with  only  limited 
realization.  Meade  is  calculated  to  have  led  70,000  men, 
while  Lee,  owing  to  the  absence  of  Longstreet,  had  not  more 
than  50,000.  The  right  of  the  Confederates,  touching  the 
Rapidan  at  Morton's  Ford,  leaving  uncovered  the  several 
lower  fords  of  that  stream,  was  depending  for  protection  on 
a  line  of  fortifications  constructed  along  the  left  bank  of  Mine 
Run,  a  tributary  of  the  Rapidan,  entering  the  same  near 
Morton's  Ford  and  flowing  nearly  at  right  angles  with  the 
larger  stream.  Ewell's  Corps  held  position  from  Morton's 
Ford  to  Orange  Court  House,  while  Hill's  was  distributed 
from  south  of  that  point  along  the  railroad  to  near  Charlotts- 
ville,  an  interval  of  several  miles  existing  between  the  corps. 

Provided  with  ten  days'  rations,  Meade  had  resolved  to 
cut  loose  from  his  base  of  supplies.  His  orders  for  advance, 
first  given  on  the  23d,  were  countermanded  on  account  of  a 
severe  storm  of  three  days'  duration  which  broke  over  the 
army.  In  brief,  the  advance  did  not  proceed  according  to 
schedule,  the  Third  Corps  being  still  asleep  when  the  Sixth 
was  upon  it,  and  the  Sixth  was  to  have  followed.  Here  was 
a  long  delay;  again  at  Jacob's  Ford  the  pontoons  were  not 
sufficient  to  carry  the  bridge  to  the  opposite  shore  and,  when 
reached,  the  banks  were  too  steep  for  the  crossing  of  the  artil- 


Nov.  26,  '63  TOWARDS  MINE  RUN  235 

lery,  thus  causing  in  all  a  delay  of  more  than  twenty-four 
hours.  The  other  corps,  crossing  lower  down,  accomplished 
their  missions,  but  the  delays  named  were  fatal,  so  that  when 
finally  facing  each  other,  Lee  had  so  strengthened  his  position 
that  it  was  not  deemed  feasible  to  attack,  and  once  more  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  moved  back  to  its  old  position  and 
camped. 

For  the  Tenth  Regiment  the  story  follows.  Reveille  sounded 
before  daylight  on  the  26th,  the  day  set  for  the  general 
advance  and,  with  adequate  rations,  the  army  was  supposed 
to  be  ready  to  march.  An  hour  later  the  Sixth  Corps  was 
marching  towards  Brandy  Station  and  very  soon  the  head  of 
our  column  halted  in  the  midst  of  the  camp  of  the  Third  Corps, 
which  should  have  been  up  and  away  long  before  our  arrival. 
The  Third  Division,  to  which  the  Regiment  belonged,  was 
guarding  trains  on  the  rear;  at  any  rate  it  was  last  in  the 
column.  The  recent  rains  had  reduced  the  roads  to  a  deplor 
able  condition,  but  we  were  used  to  that.  Night  came  upon  us 
with  only  about  eight  miles  to  our  credit.  We  had  waited  hours 
for  the  Third  Corps  to  get  ready  to  march.  The  head  of  the 
Third  Corps  did  not  reach  Jacob's  Ford  until  long  after  dark 
instead  of  noon  as  had  been  expected.  Here  was  another 
long  halt  owing  to  an  insufficient  number  of  boats  for  the 
bridge.  While  thus  picking  our  way  along,  we  could  not 
halt  for  rest  nor  long  enough  to  make  our  great  solace,  a  cup 
of  coffee,  so  that  the  cry  of  "Coffee,  coffee,  coffee"  rang  out 
through  the  forests  in  w7hich  we  were  picking  our  way,  until 
at  11.00  p.  m.  there  was  a  halt  of  ten  minutes,  in  which  time 
we  w^ere  allowed  to  prepare  a  cup  of  our  favorite  stimulant. 
It  was  past  midnight  when  we  crossed  the  river,  leaving 
Upton's  Brigade  of  the  First  Division  on  the  north  side  as  a 
rear  guard.  There  was  scant  preparation  for  camping  when 
the  south  side  of  the  Rapidan  was  reached,  every  man  throw 
ing  himself  on  the  ground  for  immediate  sleep. 

The  Fifth  and  First  Corps  had  crossed  at  Culpeper  Ford; 
the  Second  at  noon  had  gone  over  at  Germanna  Ford,  and  all 
three  were  at  their  assigned  stations,  again  approaching  the 


236  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

scenes  of  the  Chancellorsville  encounter  of  last  May.  Only 
the  Third  and  Sixth  Corps  had  failed  to  reach  the  assigned 
positions,  viz,  at  Robertson's  Tavern,  fully  seven  miles 
beyond  the  ford,  but  the  men  were  too  weary  and  the  country 
too  obscure  to  warrant  the  march  that  night,  though  no  blame 
could  be  attached  to  the  Sixth  Corps  or  commander.  On  the 
morning  of  the  27th  the  Third  Corps  began  its  advance  and 
the  Sixth  was  in  line  to  follow,  but  trouble  soon  began  towards 
the  front  where  picket  firing  and  an  occasional  cannon  boom 
told  us  that  the  enemy  had  been  reached.  Here  we  waited, 
the  skirmishing  continuing  until  about  o.OO  p.  m.  when  the 
firing  was  considerably  increased  and  it  was  evident  that  the 
struggle  was  increasing.  Our  division,  the  Third,  was  moved 
to  the  left  and  formed  in  line  of  battle,  all  anxiously  waiting 
for  word  from  the  front  where  the  fight  was  raging  furiously. 
It  appeared  that  the  misadventures  of  the  Third  Corps  were 
not  yet  ended,  for  in  trying  to  obey  Meade's  orders  to  advance 
to  Robertson's  Tavern,  it  had  taken  a  wrong  road,  being  too 
far  to  the  right,  and  so  had  encountered  Johnson's  Division 
of  E well's  Corps,  hence  the  noise  of  battle  to  which  we  were 
treated  during  the  afternoon.  In  the  engagement  there  was 
a  loss  of  several  hundred  men  on  both  sides. 

While  waiting  for  the  orders  that  should  send  us  in,  night 
settled  down  upon  us,  the  sound  of  afms  subsided  and  we,  still 
clinging  to  our  weapons,  rested  as  best  we  might.  Towards 
midnight  the  "general"  was  sounded  and  with  thirteen  extra 
rounds  we  packed  up  and  still  waited.  A  prayer  meeting 
helped  to  pass  away  some  of  the  earlier  hours  of  the  night. 
It  was  1 .00  a.  m.  of  the  28th  when  we  really  fell  in  and  started, 
turning  to  our  left  and  at  daylight,  reaching  Robertson's 
Tavern,  halted  for  breakfast.  We  should  have  been  at  this 
point  just  twenty-four  hours  before.  A  cold  drenching  rain 
fell  steadily  the  greater  part  of  the  28th  during  which  there 
was  some  skirmishing  but  no  engagement  like  that  of  yester 
day.  The  morass  into  which  our  Regiment  was  led  added  to 
our  discomfort,  giving  us  moisture  in  every  possible  way.  We 
were  in  the  midst  of  deep  woods  through  which  flowed  the 


Nov.  29-30,  '63  MINE  RUN  237 

small  stream,  Mine  Run,  bordered  by  wide  marshes,  fated  to 
be  known  in  history  as  the  scene  of  an  abortive  effort  to  out 
wit  the  Confederates.  During  the  night  both  sides  threw  up 
strong  breastworks  which  the  morning  revealed  as  so  much 
more  to  be  overcome. 

Sunday  was  spent  in  still  further  arranging  the  forces  with 
General  Warren  and  the  Second  Corps  at  the  extreme  Union 
left;  he  was  supported  by  the  Fifth  Corps,  two  divisions  of 
of  the  Third,  and  our  (Third)  Division  of  the  Sixth,  under 
Gen.  H.  D.  Terry.  In  the  center  were  the  First  and  Fifth 
Corps,  while  the  right  was  composed  of  the  two  remaining 
divisions  of  the  Sixth  and  what  was  left  of  the  Third.  It  was 
a  cold,  raw  day  and  we  were  ordered  to  load  our  pieces,  but 
to  build  no  fires.  As  usual,  when  so  many  opposing  forces 
confront  each  other,  with  almost  ubiquitous  cavalry  there 
was  a  constant  firing  from  some  direction  and  when  we  heard 
it  heavy  in  our  rear,  certain  of  the  men  expressed  a  wonder  as 
to  just  where  the  rear  was.  With  pickets  thrown  out  at  night, 
and  with  camp  fires  burning,  we  passed  a  fairly  comfortable 
period  of  waiting  for  the  morning.  That  something  unusual 
was  impending  on  that  morning  everybody  knew.  We  had 
not  been  hanging  on  through  all  this  cold  marching  from 
one  position  to  another  without  some  reason,  and  all  expected 
that  the  morrow  would  see  another  contribution  to  American 
history. 

And  such  had  been  the  case,  and  the  petty  brook,  Mine 
Run,  perhaps  had  ranked  in  story  and  verse  with  Linden, 
Boyne  Water  and  other  streams  that  have  been  reddened 
with  human  blood  through  man's  inhumanity  to  man,  had 
we  advanced.  This  was  the  program  set,  viz,  that  at  8.00 
a.  m.  Warren  with  his  massed  forces,  after  a  heavy  fire  of 
artillery,  should  open  the  attack  on  the  left,  and  an  hour  later 
Sedgwick,  on  the  right,  should  lead  an  assault.  Monday  morn 
ing,  the  30th,  came.  Soon  the  roar  of  artillery  from  Sedg- 
wick's  right  saluted  the  ear,  followed  by  that  of  the  center, 
but  no  sound  came  from  Warren  at  the  Union  left.  The  hours 
of  darkness  had  been  so  profitably  employed  that  when  the 


238  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

morning  sun  shone  over  the  lines,  the  practiced  engineering 
eye  of  the  Union  leader.  Warren,  told  him  that  the  works  were 
impregnable.  As  in  other  cases,  before  and  after,  he  might 
have  assaulted  and  have  sacrificed  the  lives  of  thousands,  but 
to  what  good? 

With  Warren's  opinion,  Meade  himself  coincided  when  he 
had  hastily  ridden  to  the  left  and  there  saw  the  change  that 
had  come  over  the  scene.  The  charge  was  not  made,  the 
battle  was  not  fought,  and  Mine  Run,  as  a  great  battle,  has  no 
place  in  history ;  but  the  men  who  confronted  those  frowning 
works  were  ready  for  the  fray,  they  had  before  advanced  to 
almost  certain  death,  and  were  still  to  do  so  in  the  months 
to  come.  That  these  veteran  campaigners  realized  fully  the 
imminence  of  their  peril,  Swinton  sets  forth  in  the  following 
words,  "Recognizing  that  the  task  now  before  them  was  of 
the  character  of  a  forlorn  hope,  knowing  well  that  no  man 
here  could  count  on  escaping  death,  the  soldiers,  without  sign 
of  shrinking  from  the  sacrifice,  were  seen  quietly  pinning  on 
the  breast  of  their  blouses  of  blue,  slips  of  paper  on  which  each 
had  written  his  name!" 

So  the  day  wore  away;  no  advance  on  our  part,  the  Con 
federates  confidently  waiting  our  attack.  Meade  could  not 
go  further;  the  flanking  movement  of  Grant  in  the  following 
spring,  thus  opening  up  Fredericksburg,  Halleck  had  positively 
forbidden ;  hence  there  was  nothing  for  Meade  to  do  but  to 
fall  back  to  his  former  lines,  to  which  he  at  once  proceeded. 
During  the  night  of  Nov.  30th  and  Dec.  1st  there  was  no 
alteration  in  the  respective  attitudes  of  the  forces,  though  the 
Tenth  and  other  regiments  were  detailed  for  picket  and,  soon 
after  being  posted,  we  were  informed  that  the  withdrawal 
would  commence  at  nine  o'clock.  Orders  were  that  fires  should 
be  built  and  the  appearance  of  remaining  should  be  main 
tained.  The  weather  favored  us,  for  the  same  grew  colder, 
the  mud  stiffened,  and  the  wind  coming  from  the  South, 
deadened  the  sound  of  our  retreat.  The  main  part  of  our 
forces  was  safely  withdrawn,  and  at  3.00  a.  m.  we  began  to 
call  in  our  pickets  and  in  a  short  time  we  were  ready  to  move, 


DEC.  3,  '63  BRANDY  STATION  239 

but  there  was  a  delay  of  an  hour  in  getting  back  the  pickets 
of  the  Second  Corps.  So  speedy  was  our  pace  and  so  excellent 
were  the  roads,  we  soon  overtook  the  Second  Corps  which  had 
had  five  hours  the  start  of  us.  So  long,  however,  had  we  been 
away  from  our  base  of  supplies,  few  of  the  men  had  more- than 
a  single  meal  remaining. 

It  was  only  a  few  minutes  past  10.00  a.  m.  of  the  2d  of  Dec. 
when  we  reached  Culpeper  Mine  Ford  on  the  Rapidan,  having 
covered  thirteen  miles  in  less  than  six  hours,  a  remarkable 
feat  considering  the  route  over  wrhich  we  had  marched.  It 
must  not  be  forgotten  that  these  called-in  pickets  were  in  the 
rear  and  there  was  no  incentive  to  loiter,  on  the  contrary 
there  was  every  prompting  to  hasten.  Once  over  the  river, 
there  was  only  a  brief  halt  for  dinner,  though  it  was  called 
breakfast;  at  any  rate  it  was  the  first  meal  of  the  day,  save 
as  the  retreating  soldier  took  a  hand-out  from  his  own  haver 
sack.  At  1.00  p.  m.  we  were  off  again,  this  time  en  route  for 
Brandy  Station,  twelve  miles  away.  It  was  a  long,  toilsome 
afternoon,  the  men  weary,  sleepy  and  hungry,  many  of  them 
dropping  to  the  ground  through  sheer  exhaustion.  The  sun 
went  down  and  still  we  struggled  on,  at  last  halting  a  few 
miles  short  of  our  old  camping  ground. 

BRANDY  STATION 

It  was  about  noon  of  the  od  when  we  reached  our  former 
station  on  the  farm  of  that  staunch  Loyalist,  John  Minor 
Botts,  his  residence  being  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  there. 
In  those  times  of  carnal  weapons  and  action,  it  was  interesting 
to  note  that  quite  a  religious  movement  was  stirring  among 
the  men,  originating  in  Company  I,  and  meetings  of  special 
interest  were  frequently  held.  While  marching  orders  were 
received  in  the  evening  of  that  day,  the  sequel  proved  them 
abortive,  since  we  held  on  there  with  indications  of  that  being 
our  post  for  the  winter.  On  the  8th,  the  building  of  quarters 
began,  and  ere  long  with  clothing,  housing  and  sufficient  food 
we  were  better  off  than  we  had  been  at  any  time  since  leaving 
Brightwood.  At  winter  quarters  there  was  little  to  state; 


240  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

one  day  was  much  like  another.  Letters  were  written  home, 
occasional  passes  were  secured  for  visits  to  other  camps, 
or  even  to  Washington  or  Alexandria,  but  the  times  were  far 
from  active.  It  was  in  those  days  that  re-enlistment  was 
talked  of,  and  the  boys  were  captivated  with  the  thought  of 
a  whole  month  at  home,  not  to  mention  the  allurements  of  a 
very  large  bounty,  cash  in  hand.  On  the  15th,  the  Corps  was 
reviewed  by  Generals  Meade  and  Sedgwick,  accompanied  by 
certain  distinguished  Russian  naval  officers. 

December  18th  brought  a  Springfield  visitor  in  the  person 
of  Mr.  O.  W.  Wilcox  who  came  clear  down  there  to  secure 
men  on  the  city's  quota.  Of  course  he  was  after  re-enlistments, 
but  it  did  seem  queer  that  recruits  should  be  sought  so  near 
the  battle  front,  when  we  were  sending  officers  North  on  the 
same  errand.  The  friends  at  home  were  thinking  of  us,  as 
was  shown  by  a  quantity  of  express  matter  on  the  20th,  and 
the  vast  array  of  humanity  encamped  there  wras  manifested 
when  we  found  that  we  had  to  go  further  and  further  for  our 
fuel.  Up  to  the  2.3d,  sixty-five  men  had  re-enlisted  for  another 
term  of  three  years  and  the  next  day,  the  24th,  the  order  in 
relation  to  re-enlistment  was  read  to  the  Regiment,  carrying 
with  it  the  promise  of  thirty-five  days'  furlough.  Somewhere, 
nearly  everywhere  save  there- in  camp,  people  were  proclaim 
ing  it  the  "Night  before  Christmas,"  but  there  were  no 
stockings  pendent  there  as  Santa  Claus  illusions,  but  these 
"old"  boys  were  thinking  of  the  diversions  and  pleasures  of 
the  far-away  northern  homes.  If  there  were  homesick  ones 
in  the  great  number,  they  carefully  concealed  their  feelings 
and  maintained  a  stolid  exterior. 

Of  Christmas  Day  itself,  there  are  not  many  records,  but 
we  are  told  that  the  men  were  still  drawing  wood  for  building 
purposes  and  one  careful  on-looker  describes  a  fight  between 
a  rooster  owned  by  Captain  Young,  of  General  Eustis's  staff, 
and  another,  the  property  of  Crummy  (A),  the  regimental 
butcher,  in  which  combat  the  butcher's  bird  was  whipped,  a 
fact  which  so  exasperated  the  owner  that  he  immediately 
wrung  the  unlucky  bird's  neck.  As  for  his  own  Christmas 


DEC.  28-31,  '63  RE-ENLISTMENT  241 

dinner,  the  writer  says,  "Alf.  Midgley  presented  our  bunk 
with  a  cake,  I  had  already  bought  a  liver  from  the  Commissary 
and  John  Beaumont  had  a  box  of  goodies  come  from  home, 
so  we  had  a  good  dinner.  This  afternoon  I  saw  a  sparring 
match  on  the  parade  ground."  Perhaps  the  day  was  not  spent 
exactly  in  the  orthodox  fashion,  but  what  could  be  expected 
of  men  and  boys  who  had  enlisted  to  fight ! 

As  December  waned,  and  whole  regiments  having  re- 
enlisted  were  going  home,  the  spirit  to  do  likewise  proved 
contagious  and  by  the  28th  about  one  hundred  of  the  Tenth 
had  made  a  start.  George  S.  Greene,  First  Sergeant  of  Com 
pany  F,  was  the  first  sergeant  to  put  down  his  name.  Winter 
quarters  were  pretty  well  advanced,  though  some  were  yet 
lacking  those  very  essential  features  of  a  winter's  camp.  Logs 
constituted  the  walls  of  the  huts  and  shelter  tents  formed 
the  roofs;  they  stood  six  feet  by  ten  on  the  ground,  the  walls 
being  about  four  feet  high.  At  one  end  were  the  door  and 
fireplace,  at  the  other,  the  bunks,  each  one  made  for  two 
occupants,  the  lower  being  about  six  inches  from  the  floor, 
the  upper  three  feet.  The  remaining  floor  space,  six  by  six 
feet,  was  reserved  for  all  the  purposes  of  housekeeping  by  the 
four  men  who  called  this  home.  Adjutant  Brewster  swore  in 
seventy  re-enlisted  men  on  the  29th  and  Lieutenant  Colonel 
Harlow  of  the  Seventh  Massachusetts  mustered  the  Tenth  for 
pay  on  the  31st,  the  last  day  of  the  year.  Whatever  -the 
resolutions  made  by  these  men  at  the  close  of  1863  and  the 
beginning  of  1864,  it  may  be  safe  to  state  that  a  very  promi 
nent  one  was  a  mental  promise  to  do  their  best  to  make  the 
new  year  a  long  step  towards  the  suppression  of  the  Rebellion 
and  a  consequent  return  to  each  one's  beloved  home. 

1864 

January  was  signalized  by  the  going  away  on  the  1st  of 
Wheaton's  (Third)  Brigade  and  the  order  for  ours  (Second) 
to  be  ready  to  move  at  short  notice  but,  somehow,  such 
commands  did  not  have  the  same  weight  they  had  two  years 
before.  On  the  2d,  Captain  Smith  of  General  Terry's  staff 


242 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


mustered  in  the  re-enlisted  men  of  nine  companies  and  on  the 
next  day  those  of  "  F,"  the  other  company,  were  sworn  in;  the 
day  being  Sunday  services  were  conducted  by  the  Chaplain 


Capt.  J.  H.  Wetherell, 

Lieut.  W.  A.  Putnam,          Maj.  D.  F.  Parker,          Lieut.  W.  A.  Ashley, 

Lieut.  A.  E.  Midgley,     Serg't.  Maj.  G.  F.  Polley,    Lieut.  E.  B.  Bartlett. 

(From  wood  cut  in  Newell 's  History.) 

of  the  Second  Rhode  Island.  Major  Ely,  Paymaster,  settled 
with  the  re-enlisted  men  on  the  4th,  while  snow  fell  to  the 
depth  of  three  inches.  Orders  to  march  were  accompanied 
with  five  days'  rations  and  twenty  rounds  of  cartridges,  but 
the  marching  orders  were  countermanded  on  the  5th.  Shaler's 


JAN.  27,  '64  NEW  CHAPEL  243 

First  Brigade  of  the  Third  Division  of  the  Sixth  Corps  left 
Jan.  8th  for  Sandusky,  Ohio,  to  guard  Rebel  prisoners  and  it 
appeared  that  Wheaton  and  his  Brigade  were  guarding  the 
railroad  at  Falling  Waters  on  the  Potomac.*  As  General 
Terry,  commanding  the  Division,  had  gone  away  with  the 
First  Brigade,  ours  was  attached  to  Howe's  (Second)  Division. 
The  arrival  of  nine  recruits  was  chronicled  on  the  9th  and  all 
sorts  of  rumors  filled  the  ears  of  listeners  as  to  what  was  to  be 
done  with  the  brigade.  Meanwhile  the  mud  was  deep  and 
adhesive,  so  much  so  that  about  all  the  out-of-door  require 
ments  were  roll  call,  fatigue  and  sentry  duty,  so  that  letter 
writing  reached  a  high  pitch  of  prevalence. 

On  the  23d,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Parsons  went  home  on  a 
furlough  and  Major  Parker  was  in  command.  The  same  day 
a  camp  guard  was  established.  The  weather  clearing,  there 
was  a  grand  dress  parade  on  the  27th  with  General  Eustis  and 
wife  and  son  present,  and  as  Colonel  Parsons  returned  just 
in  time,  he  assumed  command.  The  month  expired  on  Sunday 
and  the  Chaplain  had  services  in  the  new  chapel,  whose  con 
struction  he  was  superintending.  Thinking  a  special  edifice 
for  religious  purposes  desirable,  Chaplain  Perkins  had  set 
about  erecting  one  that  should  be  a  credit  to  the  Regiment. 
Securing  the  use  of  six  teams  for  a  day,  and  with  a  volunteer 
array  of  helpers,  he  started  for  the  woods  three  miles  away. 
Getting  his  material  on  the  ground  that  day,  the  next  he  began 
putting  up  his  structure,  whose  walls  arose  to  the  height  of 
five  feet,  and  for  the  roof  he  obtained  a  large  tent  cover  from 
the  .United  States  Christian  Commission,  which  also  furnished 
the  stove.  The  dimensions  of  the  chapel  were  seventeen  by 
twenty-three  feet  and  it  would  seat  a  hundred  people.  The 
dedication  took  place  on  the  evening  of  Feb.  3d,  with  exer 
cises  participated  in  by  the  Chaplain  himself,  Chaplains  J.  L. 


*  After  advancing  as  far  as  Halltown,  the  Brigade  returned  to 
Harper's  Ferry  and  there  wintered.  This  really  meant  the  breaking 
up  of  the  old  Third  Division  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  these  troops  thereafter 
augmented  the  Second  Division,  while  a  new  Third  was  made  by  the 
transferring  of  the  Third  Division  of  the  Third  Corps  to  the  Sixth, 
i  n  the  Spring  of  1864. 


244  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Roberts  of  the  Fourth  Vermont,  and  J.  D.  Beugless  of  the 
Second  Rhode  Island.  Choir  music  was  furnished  under  the 
lead  of  First  Lieut.  M.  H.  Cotrell,  Company  D,  and  was 
excellent.  Among  those  present  at  the  dedication  were 
General  Eustis  and  wife  and  several  of  his  staff  officers  and 
others.  For  decoration  and  embellishment,  the  colors  of  the 
Regiment  were  conspicuously  suspended. 

Much  to  the  annoyance  of  the  Chaplain,  hardly  was  his 
structure  in  shape  and  use,  before  Major  Parker  conceived 
the  idea  that  the  chapel  would  be  a  fine  place  in  which  to 
practice  bayonet  drill  and  accordingly  he  demanded  the  keys 
to  the  room  from  the  Chaplain  who  naturally  demurred,  nor 
yielded  until  he  had  received  a  peremptory  order  from  the 
Major.  The  latter  used  the  space  as  a  drill  room  until  the  return 
of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Parsons  who  dealt  with  the  Major  as 
summarily  as  the  latter  had  with  the  Chaplain,  and  returned 
the  key  to  the  clergyman.  On  the  4th  there  was  a  meeting  in 
the  chapel  for  the  organization  of  a  Lyceum  which  resulted 
in  the  election  of  the  following  officers,  viz,  President,  Capt. 
Geo.  W.  Bigelow;  Vice-President,  Capt.  Wm.  Streeter;  Sec 
retary,  Sergt.  H.  M.  Converse;  Treasurer,  Corp.  Wm.  S.  Jones; 
Editor,  Roslyn  S.  Bowles,  the  latter's  duties,  doubtless,  being 
to  see  that  Lyceum  eloquence  was  properly  aired  in  the 
Springfield  press.  Weekly  meetings  were  to  be  held.  With 
the  5th  came  orders  to  be  ready  to  move  at  8.00  a.  m.  on  the 
morrow,  but  the  day  and  the  hour  brought  no  action,  only 
further  orders  to  be  in  readiness.  At  noon  there  was  cannon 
ading  along  the  Rapidan,  continuing  all  the  afternoon.  Just 
before  nightfall  musketry  firing  began  and  continued  two 
hours,  some  of  the  time  very  heavy.  At  8.00  p.  m.  the  firing 
ceased  and  in  a  little  while  the  southern  skies  were  reddened 
with  the  Confederate  camp  fires. 

WISTAR'S  RAID 

All  of  this  commotion  was  incident  to  a  project,  conceived 
by  Gen.  B.  F.  Butler  who,  thinking  the  Confederates  had  so 
lessened  their  numbers  through  sending  aid  to  the  western 


Feb.  5-6,  '64  WISTAR'S  RAID  245 

army  and  to  Picket!  in  North  Carolina,  formed  the  design  of 
swooping  down  on  the  defenceless  Capital  of  Rebeldom  by  a 
cavalry  raid  through  New  Kent  Court  House  on  the  Peninsula. 
Gen.  I.  J.  Wistar,  to  whom  Butler  gives  credit  for  originating 
the  scheme  (vide  Butler's  Book,  pp.  619-21),  left  New  Kent 
Court  House  on  the  5th  and  the  next  day  was  at  Bottom's 
Bridge  on  the  Chickahominy,  eleven  miles  from  Richmond. 
On  the  6th,  General  Sedgwick,  temporarily  commanding  the 
Army  of  the  Potomac  in  the  absence  of  Meade,  having  been 
thus  ordered  from  Washington,  threw  Kilpatrick's  Cavalry 
across  the  Rapidan  and  Merritt's  Division  at  Barnett's  Ford, 
while  two  divisions  of  the  Second  Corps  crossed  at  Germanna 
Ford  by  wading.  The  enemy  was  not  very  badly  scared,  and 
holding  his  position,  there  was  extensive  skirmishing  through 
the  day.  However,  as  Wistar  found  Bottom's  Bridge  well 
defended  his  trip  came  to  naught,  and  the  Union  troops  all 
returned  to  their  former  stations.  Butler  says  the  bridge  had 
been  in  a  defenceless  state,  but  the  enemy  was  informed 
through  a  deserter  whom  President  Lincoln's  leniency  had 
saved  from  the  gallows.  At  any  rate,  there  had  been  a  varia 
tion  of  camp  routine,  lots  of  noise,  a  sacrifice  of  two  hundred 
and  fifty  soldiers  and  then  matters  resumed  their  wonted 
calmness. 

The  rumbles  of  war  did  not  subside  at  once,  for  some  firing 
was  heard  on  the  7th,  though  more  distant;  picket  duty  was 
closely  maintained,  the  line  being  established  five  miles  from 
camp.  The  10th  was  a  happy  date  for  the  re-enlisted  men, 
since  on  that  day  their  furloughs  began  and  they  started  home. 
To  those  who  have  been  home  thus,  no  comments  are  neces 
sary;  for  those  whose  lives  have  been  passed  in  civilian  peace 
and  quiet  no  amount  of  description  or  elaboration  would 
make  clear  the  supreme  bliss  of  a  whole  month  away  from 
the  hectoring  demands  of  army  life,  and  the  pleasures  of  home 
and  friends  with  no  intervention  of  pass  or  permit.  The  llth 
marked  the  beginning  of  another  respite  for  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Parsons  who  then  left  for  home,  expecting  to  join  the 
re-enlisted  men  in  Washington.  He  was  accompanied  by 


246  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Captains  Shurtleff,  Knight  and  Pierce,  Adjutant  Brewster 
and  Lieutenant  Munyan.  The  Lyceum  was  now  in  working 
order  and  on  the  evening  of  that  date,  the  men  were  found 
debating  the  question,  "  Resolved,  that  there  is  more  pleasure 
in  anticipation  than  in  participation."  Hersey  of  Company  H 
quite  won  the  day  and  question  by  the  words,  "I'd  rather 
have  my  discharge  in  hand  one  minute  than  anticipate  it 
for  months."  That  the  chapel  might  afford  all  possible  aid 
to  those  desiring,  a  spelling  school  was  also  maintained. 
On  the  12th,  with  Major  Parker  in  command,  the  Regiment 
was  consolidated  into  four  companies;  battalion  drills  were 
resumed  and  there  was  a  regular  formal  guard  mount  in  the 
morning.  With  the  loth  went  the  last  of  the  re-enlisted  men 
on  their  furloughs  and  Captain  Wetherell  inspected  the  recent 
recruits.  Sunday,  Feb.  14th,  brought  a  valentine  for  the 
Regiment  in  the  shape  of  the  old  regimental  band,  under  the 
leadership  of  Burdick  A.  Stewart,  reorganized,  now  to  furnish 
music  for  the  brigade.  There  was  a  heavy  snow  storm  and 
Major  Parker  mercifully  withdrew  all  of  the  sentinels  except 
one. 

That  men  might  be  ready  for  the  Spring  Campaign,  the 
sergeants  were  ordered  to  report  to  Captain  Bishop  for 
instruction ;  they  in  turn  passing  their  newly  acquired  knowl 
edge  along  to  those  lower  in  rank  than  themselves.  The  17th 
was  blustering  and  cold,  a  touch  of  genuine  winter.  Judging 
from  the  diary  kept  by  one  of  the  enlisted  men,  one  might 
think  there  were  meetings  at  the  chapel  every  day  in  the 
week.  That  the  Regiment  entertained  a  deep  regard  for 
General  Eustis,  the  former  Colonel,  was  apparent  on  the  19th, 
when  he  was  presented  with  an  elegant  sword  by  his  late 
command,  Major  Parker  making  the  presentation.  The 
General  accepted  with  appropriate  language,  manifesting  a 
deep  regard  for  those  who  had  so  bravely  fallen  in  battle. 
Mr.  Burdick  Stewart,  leader  of  the  band  so  lately  arrived, 
died  Feb.  20th  in  the  hospital.  The  body  was  sent  home  for 
burial  on  the  forenoon  of  the  next  day,  funeral  dirges  being 
played  by  a  band  of  the  Second  Division,  as  the  remains  were 


FEB.  23,  '64  DAHLGREN'S  RAID  247 

conveyed  to  the  cars.  In  the  afternoon  the  Chaplain  preached 
feelingly  from  the  text,  "So  teach  us  to  number  our  days, 
that  we  may  apply  our  hearts  unto  wisdom."  The  only 
observance  of  the  22d  was  through  the  omission  of  drill. 

DAHLGREN'S  RAID 

On  the  23d,  General  Sedgwick  reviewed  the  entire  Corps, 
General  Eustis  commanding  the  Division.  Colonel  Edwards 
of  the  37th  Massachusetts  conducted  the  brigade  drill  on  the 
24th  and  the  next  day  the  bi-monthly  visit  of  the  paymaster 
was  made.  The  month  wras  not  to  expire  without  one  more 
Quixotic  attempt  on  Richmond.  This  time  it  was  General 
Kilpatrick  who  directed  the  main  cavalry  movement  while 
Col.  Ulric  Dahlgren  led  a  forlorn  hope  of  a  few  hundred  men 
against,  if  not  into,  the  city  itself.  That  the  attempt  failed 
and  that  the  brave  but  rash  Colonel  was  killed  are  all  matters 
of  history.  Our  part  was  played  as  follows:  the  Sixth  Corps 
and  Custer's  Cavalry  were  advanced  against  the  Confederate 
left,  leaving  camp  at  9.00  a.  m.  of  the  28th,  carrying  four 
days'  rations,  blankets  and  overcoats.  We  went  across  the 
fields,  past  the  residence  of  Unionist  J.  M.  Botts,  through  the 
camp  of  the  Third  Corps,  very  comfortable  and  neat,  through 
Culpeper  which  was  not  at  all  like  the  camp,  and  out  along  the 
dusty  road  leading  to  Madison  Court  House. 

Leaving  behind  us  the  infantry  and  the  cavalry  pickets  in 
succession,  we  were  in  the  enemy's  country;  a  part  not 
hitherto  trodden  by  soldiers'  feet.  The  fences  were  in  position, 
and  the  population  was  lacking  in  able-bodied  men;  only 
women,  children  and  aged  men — all  others  being  under  arms. 
We  encountered  James  City,  which  had  a  house  or  two  besides 
the  name,  a  companion  to  Charles  City  on  the  Peninsula.  At 
night  came  picket  duty,  while  those  not  thus  employed 
attempted  to  sleep  on  the  hard  earth  with  only  blanket  and 
overcoat  for  protection — not  a  success  by  any  means.  The 
march  had  been  so  long  and  the  road  so  hard  there  were  few 
blisterless  feet  in  the  entire  Regiment.  The  morning  of  the 
28th  came  at  last  with  the  men  ready  to  greet  it  and,  after 


248  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

breakfast,  we  moved  slowly  forward  until  we  reached  Robert 
son's  River  which,  after  a  halt,  we  crossed  and,  going  on  about 
two  miles,  formed  in  battle  line  near  Madison  Court  House 
and  waited.  The  Jersey  Brigade  (First  Division)  advanced 
to  the  Court  House,  while  we  formed  battle  line  to  defend  the 
crossing.  Here  we  remained  while  Custer  and  his  cavalry, 
1,500  strong,  made  a  raid  on  Charlottesville.  Was  there  a 
part  of  Virginia  identified  with  the  lives  of  her  distinguished 
sons  not  harried  by  the  destructive  hand  of  war?  Mount 
Vernon  and  the  tomb  of  Washington  were  in  the  very  pathway 
of  rival  armies,  and  now  Monticello,  the  grave  of  Jefferson, 
and  the  University  of  Virginia,  his  favorite  project,  were  to 
hear  the  sound  of  raiding  hoof-beats,  if  not  the  clash  of  re 
sounding  arms. 

The  earlier  part  of  the  day  was  pleasant,  but  at  eventide  a 
cold  storm  of  rain  set  in  and  continued  all  night  and  all  of  the 
next  day.  It  is  a  safe  guess  that  there  were  few  of  those 
waiting  thus  in  line  of  battle,  eligible  to  re-enlistment,  who 
did  not  wish  that  they  too  had  put  down  their  names,  and  in 
their  respective  well-warmed  northern  homes  were  enjoying 
deserved  furloughs,  instead  of  breasting  this  pitiless  north 
easter  as  it  beat  down  upon  them,  without  tents  or  other 
shelter  except  such  as  veterans  could  improvise.  Constant 
and  ice  cold,  freezing  as  it  fell  or  struck,  the  ground  and  the 
men  were  soon  covered  with  ice.  During  all  of  February's 
extra  day,  the  29th,  for  Leap  Year  comes  in  war  as  well  as  in 
peace,  the  storm  continued  with  no  variation  except  occasional 
snow  and  sleet.  No  participant  in  this  experience  ever  forgot 
it.  Thus  February  ended. 

March  was  a  continuation  of  the  same  kind  of  weather, 
except  that,  in  the  afternoon  of  the  1st,  rain  changed  to  snow 
and,  covering  everything  with  a  fleecy  mantle,  left  those 
suffering  soldiers  to  reflect  and  recover  as  best  they  might. 
At  4.00  p.  m.  the  cavalry  came  back,  as  sorry  looking  a  lot 
of  horsemen  as  ever  drew  a  sabre.  They  had  gone  down  to 
the  college  town,  had  encountered  some  resistance,  and  in 
coming  back  had  successfully  charged  a  detachment  of  Stuart's 


MAR.  2-10,  '64  BRANDY  STATION  249 

Cavalry  but,  on  the  whole,  had  accomplished  little  to  com 
pensate  for  the  suffering  entailed,  not  alone  upon  themselves 
but  upon  all  connected  with  the  venture.  The  movement  was- 
then  a  retrograde  one  and,  recrossing  the  river,  the  troops 
encamped  a  mile  beyond  it.  The  2d  of  March  brought  all  back 
to  their  old  camp,  in  very  good  spirits  in  spite  of  the  vicissi 
tudes  suffered.  The  sun,  coming  out,  soon  melted  the  snow, 
the  roads  were  fairly  good,  the  air  clear,  cool  and  bracing,, 
and  once  more  life  seemed  worth  living. 

BRANDY  STATION 

Camp  life  at  Brandy  Station  on  the  Orange  and  Alexandria 
Railroad,  seventy  miles  from  Washington,  was  not  eventful,, 
but  it  was  as  endurable  as  life  away  from  home  could  be  at 
any  time.  The  chapel  was  a  serviceable  structure  and  con 
tinued  to  afford  diversion  for  the  debaters,  reading  for  the 
readers,  and  religious  advantages  for  all.  In  some  of  the 
camps  there  were  many  officers'  wives  spending  such  portions 
of  the  winter  and  spring  as  the  periodic  raids  and  expeditions 
would  permit,  and  their  presence  gave  color  and  life  to  the 
scene  not  otherwise  possible.  By  the  7th  the  weather  per 
mitted  the  resumption  of  company  and  battalion  drills.  Not 
a  few  of  the  Massachusetts  men  were  pleased  over  the  assign 
ment  of  Gen.  David  A.  Russell,  the  former  Colonel  of  the 
Seventh,  to  the  command  (temporary)  of  the  Second  Division, 
vice  Gen.  Albion  P.  Howe,  who  was  transferred  to  Washington, 
where  he  continued  in  command  of  the  Artillery  depot  till 
the  close  of  the  war.  But  other  and  even  weightier  changes 
were  taking  place  in  those  days  for  a  new  name  was  about  to- 
be  added  to  the  story  of  the  Potomac  Army.  Ulysses  S.  Grant 
of  the  western  armies,  having  been  made  Lieutenant  General 
by  the  President  and  Congress,  March  1,  reached  Washington 
the  8th,  and  on  the  next  day  was  formally  introduced  to  the 
President  and  Cabinet  in  the  White  House.  On  the  10th, 
invested  with  the  chief  command  of  all  of  the  armies  of  the 
United  States,  he  paid  a  flying  visit  to  the  headquarters  of 
the  Potomac  Army  at  Brandy  Station,  and  the  next  day 
(the  llth)  returned  to  the  West. 


250  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

The  advent   of  General  Grant  meant  the  beginning  of  a 
campaign  in  which  there  would  be  no  hold-up  on  account  of  the 
weather,  but  a  "continuous  hammering"  to  cease  only  with 
unconditional  surrender  at  Appomattox.    The  eastern  soldiers 
were  ready  for  him  and  his  methods ;  making  no  loud  procla 
mations,  entirely  free  from  boasting,  he  had  already  acquired  a 
reputation  for   "doing  things"   and  the  boys  were  glad  to 
greet  him.     Meanwhile,  there  was  nothing  of  moment  taking 
place  with  our  men  of  the  Tenth.    The  16th  varied  the  monot 
ony  a  bit  by  a  foot  race  between  E.  P.  Reed  of  Company  K 
and  a  Second  Rhode  Island  man  for  a  purse  of  fifty  dollars  in 
which  Little  Rhody  was  distanced  twenty  paces  in  a  total 
of  one  hundred  and  twenty  yards.     Apparently  considerable 
money  changed  hands  in  bets  on  the  issue  and  one  lucky 
Tenth   man   jumped   to   his   feet,   when   the   race   was   over, 
shouting,  "Golly,  I  can  have  butter  on  my  bread  now."    Gen. 
Thos.  H.  Neill  of  the  Third  Brigade,  Second  Division,  reviewed 
the  entire  division  on  the  17th,  while  the  18th  was  significant 
in  the  return  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Parsons  and  the  beginning 
of  the  return  of  the  re-enlisted  veterans.     There  were  indica 
tions  on  the  19th  of  getting  ready  for  the  reception  of  General 
Grant  who  was  soon  to  come  back  from  the  West  and  a  grand 
review  was  to  be  in  order.     The  chapel  was  again  useful  the 
21st,   when  Chaplain   Beugless  of  the  Second   Rhode   Island 
lectured  therein   on  the   subject   of   "Home,"   one  that   was 
pretty  sure  to  secure  hearers  anywhere  in  army  circles;    our 
own  Chaplain  Perkins  followed  in  the  same  vein.     With  the 
22d  came  a  snow  storm,  and  a  first-class  game  of  snow-balling 
reminded   the   soldiers   of   school    days,    and   helped   out   the 
tedium  of  camp  life.     The  23d  revealed  quite  six  inches  of 
snow  which  speedily  disappeared  under  the  sun's  rays. 

Indications  of  an  army  movement  appeared  on  the  24th 
when  the  sick  were  sent  away;  at  noon  we  had  orders  to  be 
in  readiness  at  2. 00  p.  m.  for  inspection  by  Lieutenant  General 
Grant.  The  hour  arrived  and  passed  without  a  sight  of 
the  officer.  As  he  had  reached  Washington  only  the  day 
before,  his  appearance  in  camp  could  hardly  be  expected  so 


MAY  26,  '64  GENERAL  GRANT  ARRIVES  251 

soon.  He  did,  however,  make  his  headquarters  at  Culpeper  on 
the  26th,  and  thenceforward  he  was  seldom  far  from  the 
army  to  which  he  believed  was  committed  the  task  of  battering 
down  the  walls  of  Secceshia.  Wheaton's  (Third)  Brigade,  at 
Harper's  Ferry  during  the  winter,  returned  to  the  Corps  on 
the  28th,  and  the  month  concluded  with  orders  to  the  effect 
that  men  who  had  served  two  years  at  sea  might  be  trans 
ferred  to  the  navy.  Also  in  the  spring  changes,  the  staunch 
old  Army  Corps,  the  First  and  Third,  disappeared  as  indicated 
on  page  243  and  now  we  had  only  three  Corps,  viz,  Second, 
Fifth  and  Sixth,  (the  Ninth  semi-attached),  our  old  Brigade 
becoming  the  Fourth  of  the  Second  Division,  Gen.  Geo.  W. 
Getty  commanding.  Henceforth  our  blue  cross  of  the  Third 
Division  was  bleached  to  a  pure  white  as  the  emblem  of  the 
Second. 

There  was  yet  a  full  month  of  life  in  camp  at  Brandy  Station, 
varying  little  from  that  of  March.  While  no  annalist  records 
the  pranks  of  All  Fools'  Day  it  is  hardly  conceivable  that 
several  hundred  healthy  youngsters  from  Yankeeland  would 
allow  any  opportunity  for  fun  to  pass  unembraced.  There  is, 
however,  a  record  for  the  2d  to  the  effect  that  the  paymaster 
was  in  camp,  dispensing  his  accustomed  blessings.  The 
frequent  mention  of  meetings  in  the  chapel  speaks  volumes 
for  the  religious  feeling  prevalent  in  the  camp.  On  the  7th, 
Fast  Day  in  Massachusetts,  there  were  services  in  the  chapel 
both  afternoon  and  evening.  The  picket  line  was  a  number 
of  miles  from  camp  and  the  tour  of  duty  lasted  three  days, 
yet  the  boys  did  not  especially  dread  it,  since  they  formed 
new  acquaintances  during  their  hours  off  duty,  and  so  gained 
what  they  were  ever  seeking— variety.  General  Getty,  the  new 
Commander  of  the  Division,  reviewed  his  forces  on  the  12th. 

With  the  advance  of  the  season  came  all  the  indications  of 
quickening  life,  and  athletics  became  exceedingly  prevalent, 
and  one  item  among  many  was  a  game  of  wicket  on  the  13th, 
between  a  picked  team  in  the  37th  and  one  drawn  from  the 
Tenth,  resulting  in  a  victory  of  two  tallies  for  our  boys.  The 
15th  had  its  dress  parade,  some  of  its  liveliest  and  best  airs 


252  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

from  the  brigade  band,  and  an  auction  sale  by  the  sutler  of 
all  his  stores,  the  orders  being  that  all  of  those  people  must 
be  away  by  the  morrow — another  indication  that  there  would 
be  active  operations  ere  long.  All  of  the  sutlers  departed  for 
Washington  on  the  16th.  The  Rev.  Wm.  I.  Buddington  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  conducted  services  in  the  chapel,  Sunday, 
the  17th.  An  eloquent  and  deeply  religious  clergyman  who 
had  spent  a  number  of  years  in  charge  of  a  Charlestown,  Mass., 
•church,  he  made  a  deep  and  lasting  impression  on  his  hearers. 
The  18th  is  memorable  in  that  on  that  day  came  the  great 
lights  to  which  the  Corps  was  to  took  for  many  a  day,  viz, 
Grant,  Meade  and  Sedgwick,  each  one  a  star  in  his  particular 
sphere.  The  review  was  a  grand  affair  for  the  soldiers  and 
was  not  without  its  effect  upon  the  Lieutenant  General  whose 
observations  hitherto  had  been  confined  to  Western  troops. 
On  that  day  also  there  was  a  hotly  contested  game  of  baseball 
between  a  team  of  the  Tenth  and  one  from  the  Second  Rhode 
Island  with  victory  again  perching  on  the  standards  of  the 
Tenth. 

On  and  after  the  19th,  Concord  and  Lexington  Day  at  home, 
came  target  shoots  with  the  best  of  results  to  those  taking  part. 
The  23d  had  another  game  of  wicket  between  the  37th  and 
the  Tenth  with  our  team  again  in  the  lead;  also  there  was  a 
target  shoot  in  which  First  Sergt.  M.  H.  Vincent  of  Company 
H  made  the  best  shot.  The  Rhode  Islanders  and  the  Tenth 
had  a  return  game  of  ball  on  the  20th,  but  it  was  lose  again  for 
Rhody's  boys.  While  every  day  had  its  routine  duties  of 
fatigue,  drill,  inspection,  etc.,  the  diarist  of  the  times  took 
much  of  that  sort  for  granted  and  laid  special  stress  on  the 
games  played  between  representatives  of  the  several  regiments 
in  the  Brigade.  This  was  not  unnatural;  had  these  same 
soldiers  been  at  home  every  holiday  in  those  beautiful  April 
days  would  have  seen  them  doing  just  what  they  were  per 
mitted  to  do  here.  On  the  28th  the  officers  of  the  37th  played 
a  game  of  our  favorite  baseball  with  the  officers  of  the  Tenth 
but,  unhappily,  the  wearers  of  shoulder  straps  did  not  keep 
up  the  reputation  won  by  their  subordinates,  since  our  officers 


MAY  1-3,  '64  BASP:BALL  253 

were  defeated.  A  church  organization  in  the  Regiment  having 
been  effected,  on  the  evening  of  the  29th  several  young  soldiers 
made  a  public  profession  of  religion  and  were  taken  into 
church  fellowship.  The  month  went  out  with  yet  another 
game  of  baseball,  this  time  between  representatives  of  the 
Tenth  and  players  from  the  Jersey  Brigade  with  the  latter 
beaten  by  a  score  of  fifteen  to  thirteen. 

Considering  the  momentous  interests  at  stake  and  the  dread 
record  that  was  to  be  written  for  May,  1864,  it  seems  not  a 
little  strange  that  the  beautiful  month  was  ushered  in  just  as 
April  went  out,  with  baseball.  While  a  game  of  ball  and  shell 
of  terrible  import  was  pending,  these  men  of  war,  after  all 
only  boys  of  larger  growth,  happily  ignorant  of  the  future, 
were  hilariously  applauding  the  lucky  hits  and  the  swift 
running  of  bases  clear  up  to  the  day  before  the  movement 
across  the  Rapidan.  It  was  on  the  od  that  Company  I  played 
Company  G  and  won  the  game  by  twelve  tallies,  and  with  that 
day  came  orders  to  march  in  the  morning  at  4.00  a.  m.  Already 
troops  were  seen  moving  in  the  direction  of  Culpeper.  On  the 
4th  of  May  began  the  "Battle  Summer"  for  the  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  a  season  averaging  more  than  two  engagements  a 
day  for  the  Union  armies,  a  period  of  such  activity  as  America 
never  saw  before  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  will  never  see  again. 
General  Grant  had  placed  the  interests  of  different  sections 
of  the  debatable  territory  in  competent  hands,  and  now 
accompanying  the  Potomac  Army,  he  directed  its  movements 
through  his  subordinates. 

WILDERNESS 

The  familiar  morning  bugle  call  was  heard  at  2.30  on  the 
4th,  and  at  four  o'clock  all  were  in  readiness  to  start.  It  was 
a  perfect  spring  morning,  just  such  as  called  forth  from  Samuel 
Adams  the  words,  "What  a  glorious  morning  for  American 
liberty,"  when,  in  the  woods  of  Woburn,  on  the  19th  of  April, 
1775,  he  and  John  Hancock  were  noting  the  advance  of  the 
British  troops  on  Lexington.  That  morning  too  was  dedicated 
to  Liberty  and  these  "Boys  in  Blue"  are  sworn  to  free  the 


254  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

flag  from  further  floating  over  slaves,  and  to  keep  the  Union 
whole.  Flowers  strewed  the  wayside,  while  fences  and  forests 
were  vibrant  with  the  music  of  birds.  It  was  eighteen  miles 
to  Germanna  Ford,  and  no  time  was  lost  as  the  troops  of  the 
Fifth  and  Sixth  Corps  hurried  thither,  while  those  of  the  Second 
crossed  at  Ely's  Ford,  six  miles  further  down  the  stream. 
The  river  was  reached  at  1.00  p.  m.  and,  after  crossing  and  an 
hour's  rest,  we  went  on  a  couple  of  miles,  where  line  of  battle 
was  formed  and  the  Regiment  rested  for  the  night,  the  last 
real  night's  rest  enjoyed  by  the  men  before  they  drew  out  of 
line  through  expiration  of  service.  We  started  with  baggage 
of  old-time  proportions,  including  shelter  tent,  rubber  and 
woolen  blankets  and  overcoat,  but  long  before  the  river  was 
reached,  every  man  had  lessened  his  burden  by  one  or  more 
articles  on  the  list. 

At  intervals,  for  three  years  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  had 
been  crossing  the  Rapidan ;  perhaps  no  stream  in  the  theatre 
of  war  had  been  crossed  more  often.  It  had  been  crossed,  too, 
in  advance  and  retreat,  but  henceforth  the  footsteps  of  our 
soldiery  were  to  point  in  one  direction  only,  and  that  was  to 
the  front,  until  the  end  was  reached.  The  Iron  Man  who  made 
no  provisions  for  falling  back  at  Shiloh,  who  never  lost  a 
battle  and  never  retreated  a  single  inch  was  now  in  control, 
and  his  army  was  to  become  accustomed  to  the  constant  roll 
and  roar  of  musketry  and,  grown  used  to  the  din  and  dis 
sonance,  the  soldiers  ate.  drank,  slept,  encamped,  marched, 
fought  and  died  in  confusion  indescribable.  Absolute  quiet 
would  have  kept  them  awake,  and  thus  for  almost  a  year, 
realizing  what  "hard  pounding"  meant,  the  Confederacy  was 
to  be  worn  out  and,  over  the  scene  at  Appomattox,  April 
9,  '65,  "  Finis  "  was  to  be  written.  Before  our  army,  a  hundred 
thousand  strong,  were  posted  the  hosts  of  Lee;  if  not  as 
numerous,  they  were  every  whit  as  brave,  and  both  arrays 
were  approaching  the  death  grapple  with  the  knowledge  and 
experience  resulting  from  nearly  three  years  of  campaigning. 
Xo  opposition  was  offered  at  the  crossing.  The  Confederate 
leader  had  his  forces  well  in  hand,  though  uncertain  whether 


MAY  o,  '64  WILDERNESS  25.5 

it  was  his  right  or  left  flank  that  was  to  be  assailed;  in  either 
event  he  was  ready  to  move  upon  the  army  when  across  the 
river. 

So  nearly  continuous  were  the  battles  from  the  Rapidan  to 
Petersburg,  it  was  difficult  to  tell  where  one  ended  and  the 
next  began.  The  Wilderness,  however,  is  assigned  to  May 
5th,  6th  and  7th,  though  from  May  5th  to  the  18th,  it  would  be 
difficult  to  find  a  soldier  of  those  days  who  would  not  claim 
that  it  was  one  constant  fight.  The  Wilderness,  into  which 
the  Union  forces  were  about  to  plunge  was  first  encountered 
just  a  year  before  in  the  Chancellorsville  battle,  but  its  extent 
and  variety  were  not  realized  then.  Wholly  unknown  to  the 
Federal  leaders,  it  was  thoroughly  understood  by  the  Con 
federates  and  its  peculiar  features  were  worth  many  thousands 
of  men  to  them.  Swinton  says: 

It  is  impossible  to  conceive  a  field  worse  adapted  to  the 
movements  of  a  grand  army.  The  whole  face  of  the  country 
is  thickly  wooded,  with  only  an  occasional  opening,  and  inter 
sected  by  a  few  narrow  wood  roads.  But  the  woods  of  the 
Wilderness  have  not  the  ordinary  features  of  a  forest.  The 
region  rests  on  a  bed  of  mineral  rocks,  and,  for  above  a  hundred 
years,  extensive  mining  has  been  carried  on.  To  feed  the 
mines,  the  timber  of  the  country  for  many  miles  around  has 
been  cut  down,  and  in  its  place  there  has  arisen  a  dense  growth 
of  low-limbed  and  scraggy  pines,  stiff  and  bristling  chinkapins, 
scrub  oaks  and  hazel.  It  is  a  region  of  gloom  and  the  shadow 
of  death.  Manoeuvring  here  was  necessarily  out  of  the  ques 
tion,  and  only  Indian  tactics  told.  The  troops  could  receive 
direction  only  by  the  points  of  the  compass;  for  not  only 
were  the  lines  of  battle  entirely  hidden  from  the  sight  of  the 
commander,  but  no  officer  could  see  ten  files  on  each  side  of 
him.  Artillery  was  wholly  ruled  out  of  use;  the  massive  con 
centration  of  three  hundred  guns  stood  silent,  and  only  an 
occasional  piece  or  section  could  be  brought  into  play  in  the 
roadsides.  Cavalry  was  still  more  useless.  But  in  that  horrid 
thicket  there  lurked  200,000  men,  and  through  it  lurid  fires 
played,  and,  though  no  array  of  battle  could  be  seen,  there  came 
out  of  its  depths  the  crackle  and  roar  of  musketry,  like  the  noisy 
boiling  of  some  hell-caldron  that  told  the  dread  story  of  death. 


256  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

By  way  of  further  explanation,  it  may  be  stated  that  the 
mines  there  were  first  worked  early  in  the  18th  century  by 
Alexander  Spottswood,  then  Governor  of  Virginia.  By  turning 
the  last  syllable  of  the  Governor's  name  into  Latin,  we  have 
the  name  of  the  county,  Spottsylvania,  over  which  so  much 
of  marching  and  fighting  was  done  during  the  war.  The  story 
of  the  three  days'  fight  through  those  almost  impenetrable 
thickets  has  been  told  by  voice,  pen  and  print  many  a  time. 
On  the  Union  side  were  the  Second,  Fifth,  Sixth  and  Ninth 
Corps,  under  Hancock,  Warren,  Sedgwick  and  Burnside. 
Indeed  these  men  were  in  command  of  their  respective  Corps 
clear  down  to  Petersburg,  except  for  the  death  of  Sedgwick 
at  Spottsylvania,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  H.  G.  Wright, 
till  then  in  command  of  the  First  Division.  Meade,  supervised 
by  Grant,  was  at  the  head  of  the  Union  army.  On  the  side  of 
the  Confederates  were  the  corps  of  A.  P.  Hill,  Ewell,  and  that 
of  Longstreet,  the  same  having  returned  from  its  trip  to 
Chickamauga  and  Eastern  Tennessee,  with  Lee  over  all.  On 
the  morning  of  the  5th,  Hancock  was  on  the  extreme  Union 
left,  Warren  was  in  the  center,  and  Sedgwick  held  the  right; 
the  Ninth  under  Burnside  had  not  as  yet  come  up.* 

In  general,  the  story  of  the  Sixth  Corps  for  the  day  was  this: 
Sedgwick,  on  the  extreme  right,  had  only  Wright's  Divi 
sion  (First),  Neill's  Brigade  (Third)  of  the  Second  Division 
(the  remainder  of  the  Division  having  gone  to  strengthen 
Warren's  left)  with  a  single  brigade  of  Seymour's  (Second) 
of  Rickett's  (Third)  Division,  added  late  in  the  afternoon,  the 
other  brigade  having  been  ordered  to  hold  Germanna  Crossing 
until  the  coming  of  Burnside  and  his  men.  The  attacks  of 
the  enemy  upon  the  Union  line  were  repeated  and  furious 

*It  is  a  noteworthy  coincidence  that  Burnside's  Corps,  having  been 
in  the  Southwest  more  than  a  year,  and  having  been  recruited  up  to 
full  ranks  and  assigned  to  guard  duty  along  the  Orange  and  Alex 
andria  Railroad  started  for  the  Rapidan  in  time  to  cross  the  same  at 
Germanna  Ford  late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  5th;  at  the  same  time  a 
heavy  cloud  of  dust  at  the  right,  attracting  attention,  proved  to  be 
made  by  the  approach  of  Longstreet's  forces  which  the  Ninth  Corps 
had  fought  so  valiantly  at  Knoxville  the  preceding  winter,  like  itself 
now  come  to  reinforce  the  Virginian  Army,  though  on  the  other  side. 


MAY  5,  '64  WILDERNESS  257 

though  ineffectual.  At  3.30  p.  m.  so  great  had  been  the 
sufferings  of  the  Corps,  Sedgwick  sent  a  messenger  to  Burn- 
side  for  assistance  which  was  promised,  but  Grant  making 
other  use  of  the  Ninth  Corps,  the  Sixth  was  left  to  fight  its 
battle  alone,  which  it  managed  to  do  in  spite  of  its  depleted 
condition.  Our  quest,  however,  is  with  the  Second  Division 
and  the  Fourth  Brigade.  Early  in  the  day,  the  First,  Second 
and  Fourth  Brigades  with  the  Division  Commander,  Gen. 
Geo.  W.  Getty,  had  been  detached  from  the  Sixth  Corps  and 
sent  to  Warren's  left  to  seize  and  hold  the  intersection  of  the 
Brock  road  and  the  Orange  County  turnpike,  a  point  of  great 
importance  and  now  entirely  exposed.  Towards  this  point 
A.  P.  Hill  was  hastening  his  forces  to  interpose  himself,  if 
possible,  between  the  two  sections  of  the  Union  army. 
Wheat  on 's  First  Brigade  became  engaged  first,  the  Vermont 
Brigade  formed  on  the  left  of  the  plank  road,  while  that  of 
Eustis,  the  Fourth,  formed  on  the  right  of  WTheaton.  The 
fight  became  general  at  once  and  the  men  hugged  the  ground 
closely,  firing  as  rapidly  as  possible.  The  slaughter  along  this 
part  of  the  line  was  fearful  and  the  story  of  the  part  performed 
by  the  Tenth  Regiment  is  herewith  given: 

Colonel  Parsons  was  ordered  by  General  Eustis,  command 
ing  the  Brigade,  to  throw  out  skirmishers,  and  Companies 
H  and  F  were  deployed  across  the  front  of  the  two  advanced 
regiments.  In  this  position  the  whole  line  rested  until  half- 
past  three,  when  the  skirmishers,  who  were  only  three  rods  in 
front  of  the  line  of  battle,  were  ordered  to  advance,  which  they 
did,  quickly  followed  by  the  whole  line.  Soon  after  Lieutenant 
Eaton  (F)  of  the  skirmishers  was  shot  through  the  leg  and 
disabled,  and  obliged  to  retire  from  the  field.  The  skirmishers 
from  Company  F,  and  part  of  Company  H,  fell  back  on  the  Regi 
ment  ;  but  a  portion  of  the  latter  company,  under  command  of 
Lieutenant  Midgley,  were  unable  to  retire,  as  they  were  now  be 
tween  the  Second  Rhode  Island  and  the  enemy,  and  exposed  to 
a  terrible  infantry  fire  from  both  sides.  They  were  obliged  to  lie 
flat  on  the  ground,  and  kept  up  a  fire  on  the  enemy  in  that  posi 
tion.  When  the  regiment  on  the  right  of  the  Tenth  broke,  the 
skirmishers,  who  had  been  caught  between  the  lines  of  battles, 
endeavored  to  get  back  to  our  line ;  a  large  proportion  succeeded, 


258  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

but  several,  among  them  the  gallant  Midgley  (H),  received  mor 
tal  wounds  while  endeavoring  to  get  to  their  proper  position  in 
the  line.  Midgley  was  shot  through  the  knee,  and  the  bone 
was  terribly  shattered,  rendering  amputation  necessary.  All 
this  time  not  an  enemy  could  be  seen.  Perfectly  covered  by 
the  woods  and  abatis,  we  could  only  fire  at  the  direction 
of  the  flashes  of  light  and  puffs  of  smoke  from  their  rifles, 
while  our  men  could  undoubtedly  be  very  distinctly  seen  by 
them.  The  Thirty-Seventh  was  quickly  advanced  to  the 
position  vacated  by  the  Second,  and  became  at  once  engaged, 
partially  drawing  the  fire  that  had  been  concentrated  on  the 
Tenth.  '  The  Tenth  stood  this  terrible  ordeal  of  fire  until 
they  had  expended  all  their  ammunition,  and  were  then 
promptly  relieved  by  the  Seventh,  under  command  of  the 
gallant  Lieutenant  Colonel  Harlow. 

Here  fell  West  Springfield's  noble  son  and  soldier,  Lieut. 
William  Arthur  Ashley  (I),  while  waving  his  sword  in  front 
of  his  company,  cheering  them  on  by  word  and  example.  He 
was  shot  through  the  head,  the  ball  passing  directly  over  the 
right  eye,  and  fell,  expiring  instantly.  His  last  words  were, 
"Forward  boys,"  to  his  beloved  soldiers.  The  Tenth,  upon 
being  relieved,  fell  back  to  the  crest  of  the  hill,  and  were  there 
supplied  with  more  ammunition;  then  fell  back  nearer  the 
road,  and  stayed  until  nine  o'clock,  when  they  again  moved 
forward  over  the  ground  where  the  hard  fighting  of  the  day 
had  been  done.  The  enemy  had  retired  some  distance  from 
his  former  position,  and  the  Tenth  passed  over  to  where  had 
been  his  line  of  battle  and  lay  on  their  arms.  The  result  of 
the  firing  could  be  seen  in  the  large  number  of  Rebel  dead 
with  which  the  ground  was  thickly  strewn.  When  the  firing 
ceased,  four  men  of  Company  I  took  the  lifeless  form  of  their 
beloved  commander,  wrapped  in  his  blanket,  and  carried  it 
to  where  they  had  left  the  Regiment.  But  it  had  moved  to 
another  position,  and  they  were  obliged  to  leave  their  precious 
burden  after  attaching  to  it  the  name,  rank  and  regiment, 
intending  to  return  as  soon  as  possible  and  give  it  proper 
burial.  This  intention  was  frustrated  by  the  constant  moving 
of  the  Regiment,  and  to  other  hands  was  left  the  solemn  task. 
The  casualties  for  the  day  in  the  Regiment  footed  up  to  one 
hundred  and  fifteen,  killed  and  wounded;  about  one-third 
the  whole  number  engaged. 

The  Tenth,  still  doing  duty  with  the  Second  Corps,  was 
placed  in  the  second  line- of  battle  on  the  6th.  The  Massachu 
setts  veteran  brigade,  consisting  of  the  Fifty-Sixth,  Fifty- 


MAY  6,  '64  WILDERNESS  259 

Seventh,  Fifty-Eighth  and  Fifty-Ninth  Regiments,  was  in  its 
immediate  front,  and  a  movement  on  the  enemy  was  at  once 
commenced.  The  front  line  became  engaged  about  ten  o'clock 
and  continued  the  action  nearly  an  hour,  suffering  terribly 
in  officers  and  men,  the  Fifty-Seventh  losing  two  hundred  and 
fifty-one,  out  of  an  aggregate  of  five  hundred  and  forty-five. 
The  Fifty-Sixth  lost  seventy-six  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners, 
and  the  Fifty-Eighth  thirty-four.  The  loss  in  the  Fifty-Ninth 
was  comparatively  small.  The  above  regiments  were  all  re- 
enlisted  veterans,  and  nearly  every  man  had  been  under  fire. 
The  Second  Brigade,  of  which  the  Tenth  was  a  part,  was  moved 
from  point  to  point,  as  occasion  required,  suffering  the  loss 
of  twelve  men,  and  one  officer.  Captain  Shurtleff  (H)  was 
severely  wounded  for  the  third  time,  this  time  by  a  Minie  ball 
through  the  arm.  After  noon  the  Second  Brigade  retired  to 
the  left  of  the  road,  taking  position  behind  some  breastworks 
that  had  been  thrown  up  the  night  before,  and  lay  until  nearly 
dark,  when  they  were  relieved  by  a  brigade  of  the  Second 
Corps,  and  ordered  to  rejoin  their  own  (Sixth)  Corps,  on  the 
extreme  right.  Much  as  they  disliked  the  thought  of  a  tire 
some  night's  march,  they  contemplated  with  satisfaction  the 
prospect  of  once  more  being  among  their  old  comrades. 
Being  temporarily  detached  and  doing  duty  with  other  com 
mands  was  anything  but  agreeable. 

The  vicissitudes  of  the  day  had  been  many  on  the  right. 
Repeatedly  assaulted,  as  often  the  enemy  had  been  driven 
back  till,  late  in  the  afternoon,  the  Third  Division  of  the  Sixth 
Corps  had  given  way.  General  Seymour,  commanding  the 
Second  Brigade,  was  captured  in  trying  to  rally  his  men,  but 
owing  to  the  strenuous  efforts  of  Sedgwick,  and  the  experienced 
soldiers  of  the  other  brigades,  the  troops  were  again  pressed 
forward,  till  the  breastworks  were  reoccupied.  It  was  to 
strengthen  the  right  flank  that  the  Second  Division,  including 
our  brigade,  was  ordered  to  rejoin  its  own  Corps.  Twice  was 
the  extreme  right,  held  by  Neill's  Brigade,  assailed  during  the 
night,  but  each  time  the  enemy  was  repulsed  with  great  loss, 
while  scarcely  a  man  in  our  ranks  was  injured  and,  through 
the  remainder  of  the  night,  the  cries  of  the  wounded  Rebels 
burdened  and  saddened  the  air.  General  Getty,  commanding 
the  Second  Division,  was  wounded  and  his  place  was  taken 
by  General  Neill  of  the  Third  Brigade. 


260  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

In  this  story  little  has  been  given  concerning  the  services 
of  the  medical  department.  No  one  in  the  entire  army  was 
of  greater  utility  than  the  good  surgeon;  also  no  one  was  of 
less  value  than  the  ignorant  or  unfaithful  medical  officer. 
The  Regiment  itself  was  particularly  fortunate,  but  many 
men  secured  positions  whose  appetite  for  strong  drink  was 
stronger  than  their  sense  of  duty.  During  and  after  the 
Wilderness,  there  were  many  notable  instances  of  the  latter 
class  and  First  Sergeant  Marshall  A.  Potter  of  Company  G 
gives  the  following  illustration: 

In  the  ambulance  with  me  was  a  brave  soldier  who  had  lost 
a  leg  above  the  knee  and  in  one  of  those  weary  days  when  we 
were  passing  over  the  rough  roads,  I  never  heard  him  com 
plain,  up  to  the  time  of  the  incident,  when  he  said  to  me,  "I 
fear  that  the  bandage  is  working  off  the  stump  of  my  leg. 
If  not  attended  to,  it  will  get  to  bleeding."  I  watched  for  a 
surgeon  and  soon  saw  one  and  called  for  him  to  come,  before 
noticing  that  he  was  intoxicated  and  unfit  for  duty.  As  he 
came  up  the  steps  of  the  ambulance,  he  fell  forward  into  the 
same  and  one  of  his  knees  struck  the  sore  stump  of  the  wounded 
leg,  and  set  it  to  bleeding.  Crying  out  with  pain,  the  poor 
fellow  said,  "You  have  killed  me."  The  doctor  replied  that 
he  had  not  hurt  him,  and  did  his  best  to  undo  his  carelessness, 
but  it  was  too  late,  for  the  poor  soldier,  already  weak  from 
loss  of  blood,  gave  up  in  despair  and  never  regained  his 
courage.  We  were  soon  separated  and  I  saw  him  no  more 
but  I  heard  that  the  heedless  act  of  the  drunken  officer  had 
caused  his  death. 

The  dawn  of  the  7th  did  not  witness  any  great  anxiety  on 
the  part  of  either  Grant  or  Lee  to  renew  the  combat.  Appar 
ently  the  former  had  modified  somewhat  his  notion  that  the 
Eastern  army  "did  not  fight  its  battles  out."  At  any  rate  the 
fighting  of  that  day  was  mainly  done  by  the  cavalry  at  Todd's. 
Tavern,  a  severe  but  indecisive  engagement.  Lee  was  no 
longer  aggressive,  his  losses  having  been  such  as  to  teach  him 
caution  and  the  Union  skirmish  line  found  the  enemy  behind 
his  intrenchments,  probably  willing  to  be  attacked,  but  not 
going  out  in  search  of  trouble.  Our  Regiment  found  work  in 
the  afternoon  throwing  up  breastworks  to  protect  the  right 


MAY  8,  '64  TOWARDS  SPOTTSYLVANIA  261 

flank,  but  towards  night  we  were  ordered  to  be  ready  to  march 
at  dusk.  The  loss  of  18,000  men  during  the  two  days,  while 
that  of  Lee  was  less  than  half  that  number,  had  taught  Grant 
a  lesson  in  discretion  which  he  was  about  to  put  into  execu 
tion,  by  beginning  his  famous  flank  movement  southward. 
Starting  at  9.30  p.  m.,  alternately  marching  and  halting,  by 
morning  we  had  accomplished  about  five  miles,  bringing  us 
near  the  position  of  Hancock  at  the  beginning  of  the  fight, 
and  also  that  of  Hooker  in  the  Chancellorsville  engagement. 
Other  commanders  might  have  again  sought  the  other  side 
of  the  Rapidan,  but  Grant  had  no  liking  for  his  Did  camping 
places  and,  if  he  could  not  march  straight  towards  the  Rebel 
Capital,  he  could  and  did  sidestep  and  so  compelled  the  enemy 
to  seek  new  defenses.  That  men  can  see  the  lighter  side  even 
of  the  battle  field  was  evident  when  the  Rebel  bands  were 
heard  as  they  played  most  forcefully,  really  for  Union  ears, 
"Ain't  I  glad  at  gettin'  out  o'  the  Wilderness."  The  complete 
answer  of  our  boys  was  reserved  for  Appomattox. 

SPOTTSYLVANIA 

Grant  was  desirous  of  placing  himself  between  Lee  and 
Richmond ;  to  this  end  he  was  now  moving  his  forces  towards 
Spottsylvania  Court  House,  fifteen  miles  distant  from  the  late 
battle  field.  His  wagon  trains  had  started  in  the  afternoon, 
a  fact  that  could  not  be  concealed  from  the  foe  and  the  latter 
immediately  became  active  also.  Seeming  to  divine  the 
intentions  of  the  Union  Commander,  Lee  had  hastened 
Ewell's  Corps  and  a  part  of  Longstreet's  to  Spottsylvania  by 
an  inner  and  thus  shorter  route,  so  that  when  Warren  and  his 
Fifth  Corps  appeared  their  reception  was  ready  also.  The 
Sixth  breakfasted,  on  the  8th,  near  the  ruins  of  the  Chancel 
lorsville  House  and  soon  followed  after  the  Fifth  Corps.  The 
day  was  the  hottest  of  the  season  thus  far,  and  in  spite  of  all 
efforts  to  the  contrary  there  was  considerable  falling  out  of 
ranks  through  sheer  exhaustion.  Notwithstanding  all  hinder- 
ances,  the  Corps  was  on  the  field  at  2.00  p.  m.,  and  ready  to 
assist  Warren  and  his  forces.  Again  turning  to  the  account 
of  Newell,  we  have  the  following: 


262  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

The  General  commanding  the  brigade  having  been  informed, 
and  feeling  confident  that  there  was  still  another  line  in  advance 
of  the  one  which  we  were  connected  with,  ordered  the  front 
line  of  his  brigade  to  move  forward  and  connect  with  said  line, 
which  proved  to  be  simply  a  skirmish  line.  While  this  was 
being  done,  the  right  became  hotly  engaged  and  were  obliged 
to  fall  back,  which  they  did  for  nearly  a  mile,  but  without  our 
knowledge  at  the  time.  After  conferring  with  the  General 
commanding  the  brigade,  a  position  was  selected  favorable 
to  receive  and  repel  an  attack,  and  videttes  were  selected  to 
advance  and  watch  the  enemy.  They  soon  reported  a  line 
of  Rebels  advancing.  The  two  regiments  lay  perfectly  quiet 
until  the  enemy  had  advanced  to  within  a  few  rods,  when  they 
poured  a  volley  into  them  which  sent  them  whirling  back  in 
confusion.  From  prisoners  captured  at  this  time  we  learned 
that  there  were  two  brigades  of  the  enemy  in  our  front. 
Three  separate  times  did  they  advance  and  endeavor  to  drive 
us  from  our  position  during  the  night,  and  each  time  were 
handsomely  repulsed. 

During  that  night,  by  masterly  and  rapid  movements,  the 
Confederate  general  so  disposed  his  forces  as  to  stand  squarely 
and  firmly  across  the  path  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and 
was  constantly  strengthening  his  position  by  entrenchments 
which  grew  more  formidable  every  hour.  In  that  position 
Lee  was  able  to  hold  the  National  army  in  check  twelve  days. 
Early  on  the  morning  of  the  9th  the  line  was  re-established, 
and  the  Tenth  was  withdrawn  from  the  front  and  placed  in 
rifle  pits  thrown  up  during  the  night.  There  was  continual 
skirmishing  all  day,  and  the  Rebel  sharpshooters  were  busy 
adding  to  our  list  of  casualties.  One  of  their  fatal  missiles 
inflicted  irreparable  injury  to  the  National  cause,  and  deprived 
the  Sixth  Corps  of  its  gallant  commander,  Gen.  John  Sedg- 
wick.  He  was  giving  directions  for  strengthening  the  entrench 
ments  in  the  front,  and  had  been  bantering  some  of  his  men, 
who  dodged  the  singing  of  the  Rebel  bullets,  when  a  too 
well-aimed  bullet  crashed  through  his  brain,  killing  him 
instantly.  There  was  sincere  mourning  throughout  the  army. 
The  soldiers  all  knew  "Uncle  John"  and  loved  and  revered 
him  as  only  soldiers  can  love  and  revere  true  bravery  and 
heroism.  The  loyal  people  of  the  land  felt  bereaved,  for  a 
true  patriot  had  fallen.  He  fell  but  a  short  distance  to  the 
right,  and  in  plain  sight  of  the  Tenth. 

No  battle  story  is  complete  without  reference  to  premoni 
tions  andtheir  realizations.  Bodman  of  Company  E  relates  that 


MAY  9,  '64 


WRIGHT  SUCCEEDS  SEDGWICK 


263 


a  favorite  subject  of  four  comrades,  as  they  considered  the 
possibilities  of  the  Spring  Campaign,  was  whether  they  would 
go  through  all  right.  Of  the  number,  J.  B.  Chase  was  mortally 
wounded  in  the  Wilderness,  May  5th;  Sergeant  Thompson 
wrote  in  his  diary,  "If  I'm  killed,  send  picture  and  diary  to 
my  girl  and  I'll  do  the  same  for  you."  He  was  shot  dead 


MAIIYE  HOUSE, 
On  the  Heights,  Fredericksburg. 


SEDGWICK  MONUMENT, 

On  the  spot  where  he  fell  May  9,  '64, 

Spottsylvania. 

May  18th  at  Spottsylvania.  Shubael  Winslow  was  mortally 
wounded  in  April,  1865,  when  in  the  37th  Regiment  and  only 
Bodman  survived  to  tell  the  story. 

Gen.  H.  G.  Wright  succeeded  the  lamented  Sedgwick  in 
the  command  of  the  Sixth  Corps.  Gen.  D.  A.  Russell  followed 
in  the  command  of  the  First  Division;  General  Eustis  took 
Russell's  old  brigade  and  Col.  Oliver  Edwards  was  advanced 
to  the  head  of  the  Fourth  Brigade.  The  Tenth  Regiment  was 
behind  the  breastworks,  when  about  noon  of  the  10th  it  was 
ordered  to  the  front  in  a  grove  of  pines  and  supported  the 
picket  line.  Shelling  from  heavy  guns  was  kept  up  by  both 
armies  all  day.  Several  assaults  were  made  during  the  day 
by  our  troops  on  the  enemy's  entrenchments,  but  each  time 
we  were  forced  to  retire.  Two  brigades  of  the  Sixth  Corps, 
under  Generals  Russell  and  Upton,  were  successful,  and 
captured  some  nine  hundred  prisoners,  but  were  obliged  to 
fall  back  for  want  of  support,  taking  their  prisoners  along 
with  them.  During  that  day's  engagement  some  nine 
thousand  Unionists  and  eight  thousand  Confederates  were 
reported  killed,  wounded  and  captured. 


264  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

List  of  casualties  in  the  Tenth,  from  May  5th  to  May  llth: 

Company  A — Wounded,  Capt.  W.  I.  Bishop,  left  eye,  by 
pine  limb;  Sergt.  M.  B.  Beach,  left  wrist;  Corp.  Lee  Cum- 
mings,  thigh,  severe;  Russell  L.  Chadwick,  severe;  Solomon 
D.  Newton,  hand  and  neck;  G.  R.  Pendleton,  groin;  Hugh 
McGee,  hand;  C.  B.  Scudder,  shoulder. 

Company  B — Killed,  Russell  F.  Hunt,  Stephen  W.  Hickox, 
Orrin  S.  Harwood.  Wounded,  First  Sergt.  William  E.  Briggs, 
hand,  slight;  Corp.  Hiland  H.  Fuller,  foot,  severe;  Corp. 
C.  C.  Wiley,  hip,  slight;  Peter  Galligan,  foot;  Levi  R.  Green, 
groin,  severe;  Christopher  G.  Houghtiling,  leg,  slight;  John 
Reilly,  leg,  severe;  James  W.  Sheldon,  leg,  slight;  James  W. 
Wallace,  leg,  slight. 

Company  C — Wounded,  Corp.  Judson  W.  Harris,  thigh, 
mortally;  Norman  S.  Cornwell,  foot,  severe;  Francis  E.  Hart- 
well,  arm,  severe;  George  Reynolds,  wrist,  severe;  Robert 
Sheehey,  hand. 

Company  D — Killed,  Sergt.  George  W.  Cousens,  Corp. 
Clifton  Roth,  James  Cassidy.  Wounded,  First  Sergt.  O.  W. 
Pierce,  thigh,  severe;  Corp.  George  S.  Kellogg,  lung,  severe;. 
Corp.  David  Hamill,  leg,  slight;  Corp.  James  Finnican,  hand, 
slight;  Charles  H.  Shaw,  ankle,  severe;  James  Wetherbee^ 
hand,  slight;  Peter  Bolter,  shoulder,  slight. 

Company  E — Killed,  Corp.  Jonas  B.  Chase.  Wounded,. 
Second  Lieut.  Simeon  N.  Eldridge,  arm,  slight;  Corp.  John 
Day,  head,  severe;  Corp.  Lewis  T.  Black,  thigh,  slight;  Corp. 
Levi  W.  Black,  neck,  slight;  Charles  E.  Adams,  leg;  Henry 
B.  Barton,  knee;  Daniel  M.  Barton,  groin,  serious;  Charles 
H.  Day,  shoulder,  severe;  Edgar  Clough,  arm,  slight;  Ed 
ward  Dunphy,  leg,  slight ;  Charles  Hickey,  leg,  slight ;  Luther 
Hitchcock,  knee;  Thomas  Shannon,  scalp,  slight;  James. 
Londergan,  hand;  William  J.  Skidmore,  scalp,  slight;  Henry 
A.  Wiggins,  thigh,  severe;  John  W.  Templeman,  arm,  mortally. 

Company  F — Wounded,  First  Lieut.  L.  O.  Eaton,  leg,, 
severe;  Michael  Moffat,  body,  mortally;  Benjamin  F.  Wicker- 
sham,  hip,  serious. 

Company  G— Killed,  Gaius  T.  Wright.  Wounded,  Sergt.. 
Marshall  A.  Potter,  hips,  serious;  Corp.  H.  N.  Dodge,  both, 
legs,  mortally;  Corp.  Marshall  M.  Wait,  leg,  slight;  Frank 
Ripley,  both  legs,  mortally;  Dorvil  M.  Wilcox,  leg,  slight;. 
Albert  Smith,  head,  slight;  Oscar  J.  Gilligan,  hand,  slight;. 
William  H.  Scott,  foot,  slight;  George  Garland,  breast, 
mortally. 

Company  H — Killed,  Corp.  Welcome  F.  Cone,  John  R. 
Campbell,  Michael  Gorman,  Charles  W.  Russell.  Wounded,. 


MAY  11,  '64  SPOTTSYLVANIA  265 

Capt.  Flavel  Shurtleff,  arm,  slight;  Second  Lieut.  A.  E. 
Midgley,  knee,  mortally;  Sergt.  Joseph  F.  Bartlett,  thigh, 
slight;  Frank  D.  Bardwell,  hand,  slight;  Clement  F.  Drake, 
arm  and  hand,  slight ;  John  W.  Hersey,  head,  slight ;  Willard 
Lamb,  thigh,  mortally;  Charles  Russell,  finger  off;  John  E. 
Austin,  arm,  slight. 

Company  I — Killed,  First  Lieut.  William  Arthur  Ashley, 
John  E.  Casey.  Wounded,  Corp.  Stephen  W.  Read,  body, 
severe;  Corp.  James  A.  Baldwin,  side,  mortally;  Corp. 
Martin  Card,  heel,  slight;  Corp.  Francis  Cahill,  both  legs, 
slight;  Enoch  Clark,  face,  slight;  Michael  B.  Corkery,  both 
legs,  severe;  Charles  L.  Hartwell,  head,  slight;  Dwight  O. 
Judd,  finger;  Joseph  Kelly,  arm,  slight;  David  Riley,  hand; 
Charles  H.  Decie,  hand,  slight;  William  R.  Worthington, 
hand,  slight;  Edward  P.  Smith,  arm,  slight;  Corp.  Hanniel 
P.  Smith,  hand,  slight. 

Company  K — Killed,  John  W.  Jones,  George  Robinson, 
Ephraim  T.  Moore,  Samuel  Sprague.  Wounded,  First  Lieut. 
E.  H.  Graves,  body,  severe;  Sergt.  Joseph  Gaddes,  leg,  mor 
tally;  Corp.  James  M.  Noble,  arm,  slight;  Horace  H.  Gorham, 
leg,  slight;  Thomas  Moore,  leg  and  shoulder,  slight;  Andrew 
Marcell,  leg, 'slight;  John  Neff,  ankle,  mortally;  Corp.  Theo 
dore  Sargent,  leg,  slight;  John  Solomon,  foot,  severe;  John 
Trainer,  breast,  mortally;  George  W.  Thompson,  arm,  slight; 
Thomas  Wallace,  leg,  slight. 

May  llth  was  spent  mostly  by  our  army  in  preparing  for 
another  battle.  There  was  reconnoitering  of  positions,  and 
attendant  skirmishing,  more  or  less,  along  the  whole  line.  The 
Tenth  was  relieved  on  the  picket,  which  was  at  the  same  time 
the  skirmish  line,  early  in  the  morning,  moved  to  the  left  and 
took  position  that  had  previously  been  occupied  by  General 
Wheat  on,  and  lay  in  this  position  all  day.  The  afternoon  was 
rainy,  and  the  night  that  followed  was  dark  and  dismal,  the 
clouds  wrere  thick,  and  the  rain  still  fell.  Preparation  had  been 
going  on  all  day  and  into  the  night,  for  the  battle  of  the  morrow. 
In  the  morning,  General  Grant  sent  his  famous  dispatch  to> 
the  Secretary  of  War.  The  dispatch  sent  an  electric  thrill 
to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  Union,  inspiring  the  whole  North 
with  hope  that  the  dark  clouds,  that  seemed  to  settle  upon 
the  operations  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  were  soon  to  be 
dispelled  for  the  clear  day  of  victory  and  peace.  The  dispatch 
read  as  follows,  and  was  dated  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning: 

"We  have  now  ended  the  sixth  day  of  very  hard  fighting.  The 
result  to  this  time  is  much  in  our  favor.  Our  losses  have  been  heavy. 


266  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

as  well  as  those  of  the  enemy.  I  think  the  loss  of  the  enemy  must  be 
greater.  We  have  taken  over  rive  thousand  prisoners  by  battle, 
while  he  has  taken  from  us  but  few,  except  stragglers.  I  propose  to 
fight  it  out  on  this  line  if  it  takes  all  summer." 

Near  dark  the  Tenth  left  the  rifle  pits  and  bivouacked  near 
by  for  the  night. 

One  of  the  severest  battles  the  Regiment  was  ever  engaged 
in  was  that  of  the  12th.  General  Grant  had  decided,  the 
evening  before,  to  strike  General  Lee  in  his  most  vulnerable 
point.  The  position  was  the  right  center  of  the  Confederate 
line,  and  General  Hancock  was  selected  to  strike  the  blow. 
At  midnight  of  the  llth,  Hancock  started  from  in  front  of 
Hill's  Rebel  Corps,  and  moved  quietly  to  the  left,  guided  only 
by  the  compass,  and  took  position  near  the  Sixth  Corps,  to 
be  in  readiness  for  the  morning  work.  At  the  appointed  hour 
he  moved,  under  cover  of  a  dense  fog,  swiftly  and  noiselessly 
over  the  broken  and  thickly-wooded  ground,  towards  the  sali 
ent  of  an  earthwork,  occupied  by  the  division  of  Gen.  Edward 
Johnson,  of  Ewell's  Corps.  At  a  proper  moment,  the  silence 
was  broken  by  loud  cheers,  as  the  brigades  of  Barlow  and 
Birney  dashed  upon  the  works  in  a  fierce  charge,  fought  hand 
to  hand  with  bayonets  and  clubbed  muskets,  and  captured 
Johnson  with  almost  his  entire  division,  who  were  breakfasting. 
With  these,  Gen.  George  H.  Stewart  and  his  two  brigades 
were  made  prisoners,  and  nearly  thirty  guns  and  many  colors 
were  the  trophies.  Hancock  sent  over  three  thousand  pris 
oners  back  to  Grant,  with  a  note  written  in  pencil,  saying,  "I 
have  captured  from  thirty  to  forty  guns.  I  have  finished  up 
Johnson,  and  am  going  into  Early."  It  afterwards  appeared 
that  he  had  almost  captured  Lee,  and  cut  the  Confederate 
Army  in  two. 

The  Fourth  Brigade,  to  which  the  Tenth  was  attached,  was 
ordered  to  take  position  in  the  rifle  pits  captured  by  Hancock, 
which  the  enemy  was  determined  to  retake  at  whatever  cost, 
and  for  twenty-three  continuous  hours  they  were  subjected 
to  the  most  terrible  fire  of  musketry.  The  right  of  the  Tenth 
was  close  to  the  Rebel  right,  both  fighting  over  the  same 
works,  only  a  few  feet  of  space  intervening.  The  Rebels 
charged  repeatedly  on  the  position  held  by  the  Tenth.  Some 
times  the  fighting  was  so  close  that  the  muskets  of  the  enemy 
were  knocked  aside,  and  in  some  instances  wrenched  from 
their  hands.  Many  examples  of  bravery  and  daring  were 
displayed  on  both  sides  The  Regiment  in  that  day's  struggle 
expended  three  hundred  rounds  of  ammunition,  and,  as 


MAY  12,  '64  SPOTTSYLVANIA  267 

before  stated,  was  actively  engaged  twenty-three  hours. 
Here  Major  Parker,  Captain  Wetherell  (C),  and  Lieutenant 
Munyan  (H),  officers  distinguished  for  bravery  on  many  a 
field,  were  mortally  wounded.  Captains  Knight  (E),  Johnson 
(K)  and  Gilmore  (D)  were  all  severely  wounded,  and  many 
brave  non-commissioned  officers  and  men  were  killed  or 
maimed  for  life  on  that  bloody  day.  All  creditably  acquitted 
themselves,  and  all  that  remained  of  the  gallant  Tenth  covered 
themselves,  time  and  again,  with  honor  and  distinction.  A 
heavy  rain  was  falling  all  the  time  to  add  to  the  discomforts 
of  the  position,  and  all  day  and  all  night  the  Tenth  was  under 
a  murderous  fire.  Probably  there  never  was  a  battle  where 
bullets  flew  so  thick.  Two  years  afterwards,  a  visitor  on  the 
battle  ground  said,  "Full  one-half  of  the  trees  of  the  wood, 
at  a  point  where  the  fiercest  struggle  ensued  within  the  salient 
of  the  Confederate  works,  were  dead,  and  nearly  all  the  others 
were  scarred  from  the  effect  of  musket  balls."  At  the  War 
Department,  Washington,  may  be  seen  a  portion  of  a  trunk 
of  a  large  oak  tree,  twenty-one  inches  in  diameter,  cut  in  two 
by  musket  balls  alone.  The  whole  history  of  warfare,  ancient 
or  modern,  cannot  give  another  such  circumstance.  The 
Regiment  was  all  this  time  under  command  of  Lieutenant 
Colonel  Parsons,  nobly  seconded  by  the  gallant  captains  and 
lieutenants,  and  non-commissioned  officers  and  privates  of 
the  glorious  old  Tenth. 

It  was  in  that  12th  of  May  fight  that  James  E.  Wilson  of 
Company  H  had  the  adventure  of  his  life.  In  one  of  the  rifle 
pit  contests  when  the  regiment  on  our  right  gave  way,  several 
of  our  men  were  caught  too  near  the  enemy  and  were  obliged 
to  surrender.  Being  ordered  to  go  to  the  rear,  all  obeyed 
except  Wilson,  who  crouched  down  below  the  breastworks, 
for  the  rain  of  lead  from  the  Union  side  meant  death  to  any 
one  exposed.  The  Rebs  drove  him  out,  for  they  wanted  that 
hole  themselves,  and  he  sought  refuge  behind  a  stump  a  couple 
of  rods  in  the  rear.  Here  he  remained  two  hours,  hugging  the 
ground  for  his  life,  seeing  in  the  interval  three  lines  of  battle 
creep  over  and  past  him  into  the  pit,  there  to  die  for  the 
"cause,"  if  not  already  lost,  at  least  doomed.  The  pit  was 
literally  filled  with  Confederate  dead.  When  a  flag  of  truce 
went  up  and  the  firing  ceased,  Wilson  improved  the  chance 
to  bound  up  from  his  hiding  place  and  to  run  over  the  dead 
Rebels  into  our  lines,  unharmed. 

Killed,  wounded  and  missing  in  the  Tenth,  in  the  engage 
ment  of  May  12th: 


268  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Major  Dexter  F.  Parker,  arm,  mortally. 

Company  A — Killed,  Frank  Cardney.  Wounded,  Davis 
Hart,  right  breast,  mortally;  Rufus  Pervere,  foot,  severe. 

Company  B — Wounded,  John  H.  Walker,  groin,  severe. 
Missing  and  a  prisoner,  Rosser  Jenkins. 

Company  C — Killed,  Sergt.  James  H.  Abbott.  Wounded, 
Capt.  James  H.  Wetherell,  knee,  mortally;  Sergt.  Joseph 
P.  Coburn,  color  bearer,  head,  slight;  Corp.  John  C.  Clark, 
head  and  shoulders,  mortally;  Corp.  Nelson  O.  Ball,  color 
guard,  knee;  Martin  Kennedy,  leg,  severe;  Samuel  Irvine, 
side,  mortally.  Missing  and  a  prisoner,  Sergt.  Sidney  S. 
Williams. 

Company  D — Killed,  Samuel  Burbank  Richard  Ryan, 
Alonzo  C.  Brewer.  Wounded,  Capt.  Homer  G.  Gilmore,  leg, 
severe;  Sergt.  Samuel  B.  Cook,  face,  slight;  Corp.  Thomas 
Duffy,  mortally;  Henry  Noble,  side,  mortally;  Guy  Bar  dwell, 
mortally.  Missing  and  prisoners,  Sergt.  Henry  R.  Davis, 
Daniel  A.  Mullet,  John  Burns. 

Company  E — Killed,  Sergt.  Charles  W.  Thompson,  Corp. 
George  Ellis,  color  guard.  Wounded,  Capt.  Edwin  L.  Knight, 
groin,  severe;  First  Sergt.  Jesse  Prickett,  leg,  slight;  Sergt. 
Ichabod  S.  Paddock,  both  legs;  Corp.  George  W.  Talbot,  neck; 
Samuel  Crawford,  hand,  slight;  John  O'Brien,  leg,  slight; 
William  Thompson,  head,  mortally;  William  Warrillow,  hand, 
slight;  James  Walsh,  slight. 

Company  F — Wounded,  Corp.  Lorenzo  Averill,  arm,  slight; 
Corp.  Jared  C.  Hunt,  arm,  mortally;  William  D.  Keyes, 
finger,  slight;  Edward  P.  Coomes,  hand,  slight. 

Company  G — Wounded,  Sergt.  John  Pooley;  Alfred  A. 
Jewett,  foot,  severe;  Frederick  M.  Nixon,  leg,  slight;  Francis 
Williams,  leg,  severe;  Frederick  W.  Potter,  shoulder.  Missing 
and  a  prisoner,  Oscar  Hale. 

Company  H — Killed,  Corp.  Lucien  Fogg,  Josiah  S.  Emer 
son,  James  Conners.  Wounded,  Lieut.  Alanson  E.  Munyan, 
groin,  mortally;  Edward  P.  Conant,  hand,  slight;  John 
Hermann,  hand,  slight;  Albert  B.  Clark,  leg,  severe.  Missing 
and  prisoners,  First  Sergt.  Micajah  H.  Vincent,  William  H. 
Bemis,  John  A.  Franklin,  Charles  B.  Dole. 

Company  I — Wounded,  First  Sergt.  Henry  M.  Converse, 
hip,  slight;  Sergt.  John  R.  Walker,  thigh,  slight. 

Company  K — Killed,  James  Dinneen.  Wounded,  Capt. 
Edwin  T.  Johnson,  head,  slight;  William  G.  Lay,  slight. 

Concerning  the  fatal  wounding  of  Major  Parker,  the  follow 
ing  words  are  taken  from  Marvin's  "Worcester  in  the  War:" 


MAY  13,  '64  SPOTTSYLVANIA  269 

Three  successive  charges  were  made  and  Major  Parker  at 
the  head  of  his  men  led  the  attack.  The  enemy  was  checked 
but  the  Major  received  a  wound  which  proved  to  be  mortal. 
While  in  the  rifle  pits  which  our  troops  had  captured  from 
the  enemy,  a  Minie  ball  struck  and  shattered  his  right  arm. 
He  was  sent  back  to  Frederic ksburg  with  Myron  P.  Walker 
as  a  personal  help.  Strong  hopes  were  cherished  of  saving  the 
arm,  but  in  eight  days  it  was  found  that  amputation  was 
necessary.  After  the  operation  it  was  expected  that  he  would 
recover,  but  following  a  second  operation  the  shock  to  his 
system  was  too  great,  and  towards  the  last  of  May  he  suddenly 
failed.  His  wife  hastened  to  Washington  and  arrived  on 
Saturday  the  28th,  in  time  to  be  with  him  in  the  closing  days 
of  his  life.  He  was  conscious  to  the  last  and  expired  in  the 
afternoon  of  Monday,  the  30th  of  May.  J.  H.  Hendrick, 
Company  F,  who  helped  carry  the  wounded  officer  off  the 
field  says  that  Parker  groaned  out,  "I  wouldn't  care  anything 
for  this,  were  it  not  for  Tommy,"  referring  to  his  horse,  not 
knowing  that  his  steed  was  already  out  of  pain  and  misery. 
(Vide  p.  278.) 

Early  in  the  morning  of  the  13th,  the  enemy,  finding  their 
efforts  futile,  abandoned  their  attempts  to  retake  the  works, 
and  the  Tenth  was  relieved  and  sent  half  a  mile  to  the  rear 
for  rest.  The  battle  field,  at  the  point  directly  in  front  of 
the  ground  held  by  the  Regiment,  beggared  description.  The 
dead  and  wounded  of  the  enemy  were  literally  piled  in  together, 
three,  four  and  five  deep,  showing  how  fearful  had  been  the 
struggle,  and  that  the  ammunition  expended  in  the  last 
twenty-four  hours  had  not  been  in  vain.  The  loss  of  the 
enemy  at  this  point  far  exceeded  our  own.  The  Federal  Army 
had  lost,  in  the  space  of  eight  days,  nearly  thirty  thousand 
men ;  still  the  indomitable  Grant  saw  so  much  encouragement 
in  the  situation  that  that  morning,  through  General  Meade, 
he  issued  a  congratulatory  order  to  the  troops,  in  which  he 
recapitulated  the  achievements  of  the  Campaign.  He  told 
them  that  their  work  was  not  yet  done,  but  that  everything 
was  encouraging.  "We  shall  soon  receive  re-inforcements," 
he  said,  "which  the  foe  cannot  expect.  Let  us  determine  to 
continue  vigorously  the  work  so  well  begun,  and  under  God's 
blessing,  in  a  short  time,  the  object  of  our  labors  will  be 
accomplished."  It  really  seemed  as  though  the  "backbone" 
of  the  Rebellion  was  broken.  About  four  o'clock  in  the  after 
noon  the  Tenth  moved  half  a  mile  to  the  right,  and  bivouacked 
for  the  night. 


270  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

We  moved  before  daylight  of  the  14th  into  the  woods  in 
the  rear  of  Burnside's  line,  and  halted  at  8.00  a.  m.  for  break 
fast.  At  4.30  p.  m.,  we  started  again,  and  moved  a  little  to  the 
left  and  front,  and  formed  line  of  battle  at  Coventry,  on  a 
beautiful  plantation  two  miles  from  Spottsylvania  Court 
House.  Our  batteries  opened,  and  were  replied  to  by  the 
enemy.  Skirmishing  continued  in  our  front,  but  there  was 
no  general  engagement.  That  night  and  the  following  fore 
noon  ( 1 5th)  jwe  threw  up  a  rifle  pit,  and  the  Chaplain  held 
services  in  it  in  the  afternoon.  Our  Division  was  the  extreme 
left  of  the  army.  Everything  was  quiet  all  day.  Roused  up 
at  4.00  a.  m  the  16th,  and  kept  under  arms  half  an  hour. 
The  regimental  recruiting  party  returned  that  day  from  Mass 
achusetts.  On  the  morning  of  the  17th,  the  Tenth  and  the 
Third  Vermont  were  ordered  to  make  a  reconnoissance  on  the 
enemy's  right  flank,  drive  in  his  cavalry,  and  find  the  exact 
location  of  his  infantry.  The  Tenth  took  the  advance,  driving 
the  enemy's  cavalry  about  five  miles,  when  we  came  upon  the 
infantry,  strongly  posted  in  a  dense  wood,  and  about  two 
miles  from  the  Court  House.  The  object  of  the  reconnoissance 
having  been  accomplished,  the  Tenth  returned  to  camp, 
arriving  about  dusk,  tired  and  hungry,  expecting  at  least  a 
few  hours'  rest.  In  this  we  were  disappointed,  as  orders  were 
already  issued  for  the  Second  Division,  to  which  the  Tenth 
belonged,  to  make  an  assault  on  the  enemy's  left  at  four 
o'clock  the  next  morning.  To  accomplish  this  we  had  another 
weary  all  night's  march,  and  the  column  arrived  at  the  desig 
nated  point  about  half-past  four  Wednesday  morning  (18th), 
where  another  fight  was  on. 

Our  Brigade  (the  Fourth)  composed  the  second  line  of 
battle,  Wheaton's  Brigade  the  first.  The  enemy  anticipated 
the  movement,  and  as  we  advanced,  opened  a  tremendous 
artillery  fire,  doing  but  slight  damage  in  comparison  to  the 
amount  of  ammunition  expended.  We  formed  in  the  pits 
we  had  fought  so  desperately  for  on  the  12th,  and  advanced, 
forcing  the  Rebels  from  their  first,  second,  and  third  line  of 
pits.  After  carrying  the  third  line  of  rifle  pits,  we  found 
ourselves  in  the  front  line,  which  position  was  held  for  some 
hours.  Here  the  enemy  had  us  at  a  disadvantage.  Beyond 
the  third  line  they  had  strong  works  in  the  edge  of  a  strip  of 
woods,  where  they  had  heavy  guns  mounted,  and  with  these 
they  saluted  our  approach  with  spherical  case,  canister  and 
rifle  balls,  in  no  stinted  measure.  If  a  man  exposed  himself 
at  all,  his  name  w^as  quickly  added  to  the  list  of  casualties. 


MAY  18,  ?64  SPOTTSYLVANIA  271 

They  had  one  brass  gun  that  completely  enfiladed  the  pit, 
and  many  a  gallant  fellow  lost  his  life,  or  was  badly  wounded 
by  it.  Capt.  John  Chauncey,  commanding  the  Seventh 
Maine,  was  with  his  regiment  on  our  right,  and  he  coolly 
watched  the  gun,  could  see  them  load  it,  and  would  cry  out, 
"Look  out,  boys,  here  it  comes,"  and  a  shell  or  a  charge  of 
canister  would  come  crashing  through  the  pit.  He  repeated 
the  caution  several  times,  and  as  a  reward  for  his  bravery 
received  a  wound  over  his  right  eye.  As  the  blood  covered 
his  face,  he  rose  to  his  full  height  and  shook  his  fist  at  the 
enemy,  saying,  "I  have  fought  you  a  good  many  times,  and 
I'll  fight  you  again."  Then  to  his  men,  "Boys,  I'll  give  you 
one  more  warning,"  stood  and  saw  the  gun  loaded,  aimed, 
and  with  the  flash,  "Here  it  comes,"  he  turned  and  left  the 
field.  The  Seventh  Maine  lost  forty-three  men  in  that  pit. 

It  was  on  that  terrible  day  that  Captain  Bigelow  came  near 
losing  his  ear.  In  the  heat  of  the  fight,  the  Captain  felt  a 
stinging  sensation  and  coming  near  one  of  his  favorite  non 
commissioned  officers,  he  exclaimed,  "Joe,  is  my  head  off," 
at  the  same  time  turning  so  as  to  disclose  something  hanging 
by  a  shred  of  skin.  "No,"  said  Hendrick,  "Your  head  is 
not  off,  but  your  ear  is."  "Pull  it  off,"  said  the  Captain,  but 
the  friend  took  him  to  the  surgeon  where  the  Captain  still 
insisted  that  the  ear  should  be  pulled  off.  The  fierceness  of 
the  contest  prevented  a  very  nice  operation  there,  so  the 
surgeon  bandaged  the  head  and  ear,  and  sent  the  officer  to 
the  rear  where  he  could  be  better  treated.  The  ear  was  saved 
and,  while  a  little  lower  than  its  fellow  on  the  other  side  of 
the  Captain's  head,  it  is  vastly  better  than  none  at  all. 

After  the  troops  on  our  right  had  fallen  back,  and  the 
enemy  had  succeeded  in  getting  around  our  right  flank,  we 
concluded  that  we  had  stayed  as  long  as  the  interests  of  the 
country  demanded,  and  we  wrere  moved  to  the  left  under  a 
galling  fire,  and  joined  General  Wheat  on,  with  parts  of  two 
regiments  of  his  brigade,  who  had  made  the  movement  by 
the  flank  some  time  previous.  To  get  to  this  point  we  had  to 
pass  an  open  space  where  the  enemy's  fire  had  full  sweep,  and 
where  we  lost  twelve  men  who  were  taken  prisoners.  This 
point  was  held  by  us  till  wre  received  orders  to  retire,  and  the 
Tenth  was  the  last  to  leave  the  position.  In  this  engagement 
we  suffered  the  loss  of  the  ever  brave  and  gallant  Lieut.  E.  B. 
Bartlett  (B),  shot  through  the  head  and  instantly  killed. 
Sergeant  Paull  (I),  was  among  the  number  who  fell  that  day. 
They  were  all  men  of  indomitable  pluck,  and  heroes  in  every 


272  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

sense  of  the  word,  full  of  patriotism,  and  fully  competent  to 
command.  Capt.  George  W.  Bigelow  (F),  wounded  in  head, 
and  ear  shot  off;  Capt.  George  Pierce  (G),  head,  slight; 
Lieutenant  Cotrell  (D),  cheek,  severe;  Lieut.  Edwin  Whitney, 
acting  aid-de-camp,  foot;  Corp.  William  S.  Jones  (I),  foot; 
Jacob  Haigis  (H);  and  Henry  E.  Perkins  (K),  Corp.  Robert 
Best,  Jr.,  (I)  color  guard,  Corp.  William  Markham  (H),  and 
Edward  T.  Potter  (E)  were  captured  by  the  enemy. 

After  the  incidents  recited,  the  Regiment  marched  to  the 
left,  crossed  Po  Run,  a  small  stream  which,  with  similar 
runlets,  viz,  the  Mat,  Ta  and  Ny,  makes  the  beginning  of  the 
Mattapony  River,  and  forming  in  line  of  battle  waited  for 
the  morning.  The  latter  came  early,  for  at  4.00  a.  m.  on  the 
19th,  we  were  marching  by  the  right  flank  to  the  place  where 
we  had  reconnoitred  on  the  17th,  again  formed  battle  line 
and  dug  rifle  pits  opposite  the  right  flank  of  the  enemy.  Here 
we  received  our  first  mail  since  leaving  camp  at  Brandy  Station. 
The  20th  also  brought  us  up  and  out  at  4.00  a.  m.,  standing 
in  line  of  battle  for  half  an  hour.  Varying  our  positions 
somewhat  during  the  day,  we  saw  General  Meade  pass  along 
our  lines  where  the  digging  of  breastworks  took  the  most  of 
time  and  strength. 

In  a  paper  prepared  for  the  Loyal  Legion  and  read  before  the 
same,  April  3d,  1901,  Colonel  Parsons  treats  the  Wilderness- 
Spottsylvania  engagements  at  length  and  from  his  recollec 
tions  the  following  extracts  are  made: 

I  was  ordered  by  General  Eustis  at  4.00  p.  m.  of  the  5th,  to 
throw  out  skirmishers  to  cover  his  whole  brigade,  which  was 
formed  in  two  -lines,  the  Tenth  Massachusetts  and  Second 
Rhode  Island  on  the  front  line,  Thirty-Seventh  and  Seventh 
Massachusetts  forming  the  rear.  The  woods  at  this  point 
were  filled  with  underbrush,  so  that  we  moved  forward  by  the 
right  of  companies  to  the  front  for  some  twenty-five  rods, 
when  we  came  into  open  woods.  Skirmishers  became  engaged, 
line  of  battle  was  formed,  the  roar  of  musketry  was  heard  on 
the  left,  Wheaton  being  first  in  the  fight.  It  was  taken  up  as 
the  different  brigades  approached  and  became  general  along 
the  whole  line. 

The  firing  then  became  terrific.  Men  who  had  been  in  all 
the  battles  of  the  war  up  to  that  time  said  they  never  saw 


MAY  5-6,  '(>4  COLONEL  PARSONS'S  PAPER  273 

anything  like  it.  It  seemed  to  come  from  two  or  three  lines 
of  battle,  one  above  the  other — a  perfect  hail  of  balls.  The 
Second  Rhode  Island  formed  the  extreme  right  of  our  line 
engaged,  and  had  to  receive,  besides  the  fire  from  the  front, 
an  enfilading  fire  from  the  enemy,  whose  line  extended  a  long 
distance  beyond  theirs,  and  who  could  devote  their  whole 
attention  to  the  right  of  that  regiment.  It  was  unable  to 
stand  the  terrible  ordeal  to  which  it  was  subjected,  and  gave 
way  in  some  confusion.  Then  a  most  destructive  fire  was 
poured  into  the  right  flank  of  the  Tenth.  Men  dropped  like 
the  leaves  of  autumn — still  the  line  wavered  not.  The  ground 
was  literally  covered  with  the  wounded,  the  dying  and  the 
dead.  Colonel  Edwards  of  the  Thirty-Seventh  gallantly 
moved  his  regiment  forward  and  assisted  the  Rhode  Island 
and  the  line  was  soon  established. 

Lieutenant  Colonel  Harlow  of  the  Seventh  reported  to  me 
at  this  juncture  that  his  regiment  was  just  over  the  knoll, 
that  he  had  not  seen  Colonel  Johns,  the  Colonel  of  his  regiment, 
since  we  entered  the  woods,  nor  had  he  seen  General  Eustis. 
I  said,  "We  are  nearly  out  of  ammunition;  bring  up  your 
regiment  and  form  on  my  left  as  there  is  space  between  the 
left  of  my  regiment  and  the  right  of  Bidwell's  brigade  to 
form  a  whole  brigade."  He  soon  brought  up  his  regiment,  but 
instead  of  moving  to  my  left,  directly  in  my  rear.  The  Tenth 
Regiment  was  ordered  to  lie  down;  he  passed  over  us  and  took 
up  the  fire. 

We  retreated  just  beyond  the  knoll  which  he  spoke  of, 
where  we  found  General  Eustis  with  plenty  of  ammunition 
with  which  we  supplied  ourselves,  and  under  his  orders  moved 
to  the  front  forming  on  Harlow's  left.  There  was  one  constant 
roar  of  musketry  till  night  closed  in,  ending  the  first  day  of  the 
Battle  of  the  Wilderness.  The  line  moved  forward  a  few  rods, 
threw  out  their  pickets  and  rested  all  night  upon  their  arms, 
giving  attention  to  the  wounded. 

The  following  day,  May  6th,  we  were  called  up  before  day 
light.  The  enemy  had  retired  about  half  a  mile  during  the 
night.  Wre  were  placed  in  the  second  line  of  battle  and  moved 
from  point  to  point  as  the  occasion  required.  There  was  a 
continuous  roar  of  musketry  all  the  day,  each  side  in  turn 
gaining  a  slight  advantage.  Shortly  after  noon  Eustis's 
Brigade  retired  to  the  left  of  the  road,  taking  position  behind 
some  breastworks  that  had  been  thrown  up  the  night  before. 
We  marched  out  of  the  Wilderness,  starting  at  nine -thirty 
in  the  evening,  marching  with  occasional  halts  all  night, 


274  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

making  a  journey  of  five  miles,  and  rested  for  breakfast  near 
the  house  where  Stonewall  Jackson  died,  which  was  the  route 
of  the  Sixth  Corps  towards  the  new  field  of  operation  at  Spott- 
sylvania  Court  House. 

We  arrived  in  front  of  the  enemy  early  in  the  afternoon. 
Eustis's  Brigade  was  ordered  to  report  to  the  Fifth  Corps  and 
was  formed  on  the  left  of  Crawford's  Division  in  two  lines  of 
battle.  It  was  nearly  dusk  when  the  order  "Forward"  was 
given.  The  general  commanding  the  brigade  having  been 
informed  that  there  was  still  another  line  in  advance  of  the 
one  we  were  connected  with,  ordered  his  front  line  to  take  the 
double  quick,  which  we  did  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile, 
when  a  line  of  skirmishers  appeared  on  our  front  and  we  learned 
that  there  was  no  other  advance  line,  that  the  line  of  battle 
on  the  right  had  been  driven  back.  General  Eustis  ordered 
me  to  remain  at  this  point  while  he  went  back  and  brought 
up  the  balance  of  the  brigade. 

We  were  now  on  the  top  of  a  ridge  with  the  ground  sloping 
both  ways.  A  wood  road  ran  through  the  center  of  the  right 
wing  of  my  regiment.  I  moved  the  regiment  back  some  ten 
rods  and  to  the  left  so  that  my  right  rested  on  said  road,  and 
ordered  Lieutenant  Colonel  Reed,  in  command  of  the  Second 
Rhode  Island,  to  throw  out  skirmishers  to  cover  his  left  flank. 
I  then  ordered  scouts  to  the  front  to  find  out  the  position  and 
ascertain  what  was  in  our  front.  I  gave  orders  that  in  no  case 
was  a  gun  to  be  fired.  The  scouts  soon  returned  and  informed 
me  that  some  twenty  rods  to  the  front  was  a  cleared  field 
occupied  by  two  brigades,  one  of  which  was  already  advanc 
ing  towards  the  woods. 

Both  regiments  were  lying  down  waiting  the  charge.  We 
could  hear  the  line  moving  through  the  woods;  when  they 
arrived  at  the  top  of  the  ridge  they  delivered  their  fire.  From 
the  light  of  the  muskets  I  could  see  that  the  line  extended 
far  to  our  right.  Their  shots  went  over  us,  hurting  no  one. 
We  opened  fire  upon  them,  when  their  line  broke  and  retreated 
on  the  run  through  the  woods.  I  immediately  sent  the  scouts 
out  to  watch  the  front.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Reed,  command 
ing  the  Second  Rhode  Island,  reported  to  me  that  his  skir 
mishers  had  all  been  captured.  I  ordered  him  to  send  out 
more  skirmishers. 

Captain  Bishop  of  my  command  reported  to  me  that  he 
had  had  one  man  killed  and  two  wounded  by  shots  coming 
from  the  rear,  and  he  could  not  hold  his  men  in  line.  I  ordered 
Lieutenant  Gardner  of  Company  K  to  go  back  to  the  rear 


MAY  12,  '64  COLONEL  PARSONS'S  PAPER  275 

and  learn  what  troops  were  there,  to  give  my  compliments 
to  the  commander  and  request  him  to  have  his  men  uncap 
their  pieces.  Gardner  not  reporting  I  sent  Adjutant  Brewster 
on  the  same  mission.  Brewster  found  himself  in  the  Seventy- 
Seventh  New  York  of  Bidwell's  Brigade  and  they  attempted 
to  capture  him,  stating  that  they  had  captured  an  officer 
whom  they  considered  a  Rebel  in  Union  clothes,  and  had  sent 
him  with  six  men  to  headquarters.  Brewster  would  not  be 
captured,  and  finding  an  officer  whom  he  knew  and  who 
recognized  him,  presented  him  to  Bidwell,  and  my  request 
was  complied  with.  The  Confederates  made  three  attempts 
to  drive  us  from  our  position  but  we  repulsed  them  and  soon 
the  sound  of  axes  was  heard  and  the  enemy  commenced  to 
build  the  fortifications  known  as  "The  Bloody  Angle,"  which 
Hancock  captured  on  the  morning  of  the  12th. 

From  General  Bidwell  I  learned  that  we  were  nearly  half 
a  mile  -in  front  of  our  line  of  battle,  and  at  three  o'clock 
in  the  morning  we  marched  to  the  rear  and  came  out  of  the 
woods  where  the  army  was  encamped.  There  was  an  officer 
standing  in  one  of  the  tents.  I  reported  to  him  and  found  it 
to  be  General  Neill,  who  was  in  command  of  the  Second 
Division,  General  Getty  having  been  knocked  out  in  the 
Wilderness.  He  was  very  much  excited  and  ordered  me  to 
go  back  with  my  troops  where  I  came  from,  saying  that  the 
troops  behaved  badly  and  fell  back  without  any  reason;  that 
he  had  not  had  a  wink  of  sleep  during  the  night.  I  then  saw- 
General  Eustis's  flag  in  the  rear  of  the  line  of  battle  and  awak 
ened  him  and  reported  to  him.  He  was  surprised  and  stated 
that  he  supposed  both  of  his  regiments  had  been  captured, 
and  very  gladly  gave  us  position  in  rear  of  his  line  to  stack 
muskets  and  go  to  sleep. 

May  12th,  Hancock  with  the  Second  Corps  was  ordered  to 
capture  the  works  since  known  as  "The  Bloody  Angle."  The 
Sixth  Corps  was  ordered  the  night  before  in  a  position  to  give 
Hancock  their  assistance.  Hancock  moved  out  in  the  early 
morning,  captured  the  works,  took  Gen.  Edward  Johnson 
and  some  four  thousand  men  as  prisoners  and  marched  them 
to  the  rear.  McAllister's  Brigade  of  Hancock's  Corps  was 
left  to  hold  the  works,  which  were  quickly  assailed  by  Gordon's 
troops  and  Eustis's  Brigade.  The  First  Brigade  of  the  Sixth 
Corps  was  ordered  at  once  to  his  assistance  that  morning. 
The  brigade  moved  out  by  the  right  flank,  Edwards  on  the 
right,  next  to  the  Second  Rhode  Island,  then  the  Tenth  Massa 
chusetts.  The  Seventh  Massachusetts  was  on  picket  line. 


276  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

We  moved  out  through  the  woods,  filed  to  the  left,  passed 
the  line  of  prisoners,  and  came  out  into  the  open  field,  when 
the  order  was  given  to  "Face  by  the  rear  rank,"  "By  the 
right  flank  march,"  which  brought  the  Tenth  Regiment  on 
the  right  of  the  brigade.  We  moved  across  in  line  of  battle, 
down  through  the  ravine,  which  was  about  ten  rods  from  the 
works,  up  to  the  works.  The  Tenth  Regiment,  being  on  the 
extreme  right,  came  up  beyond  the  line  of  works  and  engaged 
the  enemy  in  the  rifle  pits  beyond.  After  delivering  our  fire, 
there  being  no  time  to  load,  we  had  a  hand  to  hand  contest 
with  the  enemy,  using  the  bayonet  and  clubbing  with  the 
musket.  A  force  of  the  Rebels  scaled  the  works  and  poured 
a  terrific  fire  into  the  right  flank  of  the  Regiment  and  drove 
us  back  beyond  the  knoll  in  rear  of  the  Second  Rhode  Island. 

We  fought  the  Rebels  desperately  and  with  the  aid  of  the 
Second  Rhode  Island  held  our  ground  just  over  the  knoll. 
The  works  were  built  of  logs  some  five  feet  high  with  a  header, 
so  that  a  space  was  left  to  run  the  rifles  through.  These  works 
were  heavily  manned  with  some  twenty  heavy  guns.  Logs 
on  the  left  were  built  about  twenty  feet  to  the  rear  for  the 
purpose  of  protecting  the  gunners.  My  colors  were  pushed 
up  close  to  the  works  and  the  Regiment  formed  on  the  right 
and  rear,  protecting  the  flank.  The  right  wing  suffered  severe 
ly,  and  among  the  killed  and  mortally  wounded  were  Major 
Parker,  Captain  Wetherell  and  Lieutenant  Munyan,  while 
Captains  Gilmore  and  Knight  and  Lieutenants  Eaton  and 
Graves  were  seriously  wounded. 

About  ten  o'clock  it  was  raining — I  had  on  an  old  rubber 
coat.  A  horseman  rode  up  through  the  ravine;  he  had  on  a 
cavalry  overcoat,  he  dismounted  and  asked  me  who  com 
manded  that  regiment.  I  told  him.  He  said,  "This  is  no 
position  for  this  regiment.  Swing  this  regiment  over  this 
slope  up  against  the  works."  I  attempted  to  explain  the 
position.  He  said,  "I  want  no  explanation  from  you,  sir, 
I  am  General  Upton;  I  order  it  done  at  once."  I  had  been  in 
the  service  long  enough  to  know  that  I  had  a  brigade  com 
mander  and  a  division  commander  and  would  not  take  orders 
from  any  outsider  at  such  a  time  as  this,  unless  I  agreed 
thoroughly  with  him. 

I  refused  to  obey  his  order  and  was  threatened  with  court- 
martial.  Then  he  came  back  and  wanted  to  know  who 
commanded  the  brigade.  Eustis  commanded  the  Brigade, 
but  he  had  gone  back  for  troops  and  Edwards  was  in  command. 
I  never  saw  General  Eustis  after  that  during  my  term  of  service. 


MAY  12,  '64  COLONEL  PARSONS'S  PAPER  277 

I  told  Upton  that  Edwards  was  in  command  and  very  likely 
he  would  find  him  down  on  the  left  of  the  line  of  the  Thirty- 
Seventh  Massachusetts.  He  was  gone  about  half  an  hour 
when  he  came  back  with  Edwards,  my  personal  friend,  for 
merly  Adjutant  of  the  Tenth  Massachusetts.  He  was  a 
splendid  officer.  He  said,  "This  is  General  Upton;  he  ranks 
me  and  he  orders  you  to  swing  up  against  the  works."  I  said 
to  him,  "Colonel  Edwards,  you  are  in  command  of  the  Brigade. 
My  advice  is  that  you  give  General  Upton  the  same  answer 
that  I  did."  While  we  were  conversing  a  column  of  troops 
came  up  the  ravine  and  General  Upton  said,  "I  will  take  these 
new  troops  and  will  show  you  how  soon  these  works  can  be 
taken  and  held." 

The  third  regiment  in  column  and  the  third  in  line  was  the 
Eleventh  Massachusetts.  He  formed  them  on  the  right  of 
my  regiment  in  the  ravine  in  column  of  regiments.  He  ordered 
the  first  regiment  to  charge  up  over  the  slope  up  against  the 
works.  They  received  a  termendous  fire  as  they  came  up  out 
of  the  ravine  on  the  front  and  flank.  No  troops  could  stand 
such  a  fire  and  they  were  driven  back  in  confusion,  leaving  the 
ground  strewn  with  their  dead  and  wounded.  He  then 
ordered  the  Second  Regiment  with  the  same  result.  He  then 
came  to  Edwards  and  said,  "Troops  cannot  live  over  that 
slope;  I  have  ordered  the  other  regiment  to  report  to  you 
and  I  advise  that  the  line  be  extended  from  your  right  around 
the  knoll." 

That  was  the  line  that  was  held  during  the  whole  fight. 
There  was  one  constant  roll  of  musketry.  My  colors  never 
left  the  position  they  were  in.  When  the  guns  got  so  foul 
that  they  could  not  be  used  the  men  would  drop  out  of  the 
ranks  and  have  them  cleaned  and  then  retake  their  places. 
Beyond  those  logs  that  were  built  to  the  rear  was  where  the 
Rebels  were  close  to  us.  Men  would  load  their  pieces,  raise 
the  butt  with  the  left  hand  and  fire  down  into  the  trenches. 
Many  examples  of  bravery  were  seen  there  during  the  day. 
Men  would  jump  to  the  top  of  the  works,  fire,  change  muskets, 
fire,  and  soon  be  knocked  over  and  others  would  take  their 
places.  I  saw  many  do  it  during  that  fight.  It  was  a  hard 
day's  fight  and  was  kept  up  until  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  when 
the  firing  ceased  and  the  enemy  left  their  works.  The  last 
regiment  that  came  up  was  a  New  Jersey  regiment — I  think  it 
was  the  Tenth.  I  was  directed  by  Colonel  Edwards  to  take 
that  regiment  up  on  my  right  and  to  lead  it  up  against 
the  works  where  Upton  had  pushed  his  men  in  the  morning. 


278  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

This  I  did.  It  was  a  terrible  march  from  the  ravine  across 
the  slope  of  that  field  where  the  dead  and  wounded  were  lying. 
I  came  back  to  my  regiment,  which  was  formed  obliquely 
to  the  rear,  and  told  them  they  might  rest  and  they  laid  down 
and  went  to  sleep. 

Time  will  not  permit  a  detailed  account  of  the  scenes  of 
the  next  week.  There  were  many  thrilling  experiences,  which 
never  will  be  forgotten  by  those  who  shared  them.  The  fact 
that  in  eight  days  the  Army  of  the  Potomac  lost  30,000  men, 
demonstrates  beyond  question  the  most  terrific  fighting  that 
ever  occurred  in  the  world  within  a  similar  time. 

Of  all  the  battles  of  the  war,  the  ''salient"  at  Spottsylvania 
stands  out  the  most  desperate  and  bloody.  The  next  morning 
I  went  over  the  ground,  and  had  an  opportunity  of  witnessing 
the  effects  of  the  terrible  struggle  which  had  occurred  between 
the  two  armies,  to  gain  possession  of  that  vital  point  in  the  line. 

There  were  a  few  gray  uniforms  on  our  side  of  the  works. 
My  Major's  horse  fell  within  two  rods,  just  over  the  slope, 
where  the  logs  were  built  to  the  rear  to  protect  the  flank  of  the 
gunners,  and  very  near  where  the  tree  was  cut  off  by  bullets. 
The  horse,  saddle  and  bridle  were  perfect  mince  meat ,  as  were  the 
men  who  lay  in  that  line  of  fire  through  the  night.  Over  the 
works  the  dead  and  wounded  were  lying  some  four,  five  and 
six  deep,  and  the  groans  and  prayers  of  the  dying  were  some 
thing  awful  to  hear. 

When  General  Gordon  of  the  Rebel  army  spoke  here  in 
Cambridge,  he  told  how  they  marched  the  men  into  the  works 
and  how  they  stood  right  on  that  mound  of  human  flesh.  I 
could  understand  him.  During  the  fight  a  flag  of  truce  was 
put  up  within  a  few  feet  of  my  colors.  We  stopped  firing. 
The  Confederates  came,  a  hundred  of  them,  without  any 
equipments  or  guns.  An  officer  of  McAllister's  Brigade  said 
to  me,  "Why  don't  you  fire?"  I  said  I  would  not  fire  as  long 
as  they  were  coming  over,  as  it  looked  to  me  as  if  they  were 
going  to  surrender.  He  then  asked  me  to  step  up  and  look 
under  the  head  log.  I  there  saw  a  handsome  line  advancing, 
and  it  had  got  nearly  up  to  the  caissons  in  the  rear  of  the  guns. 
Here  were  found  four  ranks  of  men  on  the  outside  of  that 
work,  and  one  rank  after  another  stood  up  and  fired  their  guns, 
and  that  line  went  to  pieces  quicker  than  I  can  tell  the  story. 
Many  hid  behind  the  trees  in  the  woods  and  were  picked 
off.  That  is  as  near  as  the  enemy  got  to  the  works  where 
the  guns  were  at  that  angle  of  the  salient — our  right — their 
left.  Flags  of  truce  were  sent  up  a  number  of  times.  The 


MAY  18,  '64  COLONEL  PARSOXS'S  PAPER  279 

man  who  held  that  flag,  and  the  one  or  two  men  who  were  on 
the  works  coming  over  at  the  same  time  were  pierced  with 
scores  of  bullets.  General  Russell,  who  commanded  a  division 
of  the  Sixth  Corps  came  up,  and  I  went  over  the  ground  with 
him.  He  was  astonished  to  think  that  this  brigade,  the  one 
which  went  in  in  the  morning,  was  in  the  fight  during  that 
continuous  twenty-two  hours.  He  sent  up  troops  and  we  were 
relieved  and  marched  to  the  rear  where  we  lay  nearly  a  whole 
day. 

On  the  18th  the  Regiment  suffered  severe  losses  in  the  left 
flank  movement  of  General  Grant,  and  in  the  report  of  that 
engagement  I  included  among  the  killed  Corporal  Harger, 
who  was  a  true  soldier  in  every  respect,  and  a  man  of  deep 
religious  convictions.  Two  years  after  the  war  my  doorbell 
rang  in  Northampton.  I  answered  the  bell,  and  was  surprised 
to  see  Corporal  Harger,  whom  I  had  supposed  killed.  He  came 
in  and  stayed  with  me  a  day  or  two,  and  his  story  from  that 
time  until  he  got  into  the  Union  lines  would  fill  a  book.  He 
lay  there,  he  says,  that  afternoon  and  nearly  all  the  next  day, 
till  towards  night  he  saw  a  Rebel  with  half  a  dozen  canteens 
on  the  end  of  a  musket  thrown  over  his  shoulder.  He  must 
have  some  water.  He  managed  to  raise  himself  and  attract 
the  Rebel's  attention  who  came  over  to  where  he  lay.  He 
said  "Oh!  for  God's  sake  give  me  a  little  water."  "Give  you 
water,  you  damned  Yankee — you  killed  my  brother  here 
yesterday."  He  threw  down  the  canteens,  seized  his  musket, 
the  right  hand  at  the  small  and  the  left  at  the  tail  bend,  and 
made  a  lunge  at  the  Corporal  as  though  he  would  run  his 
bayonet  through  him.  He  said,  "I'm  not  going  to  kill  you 
yet;  I'm  going  to  torture  you."  Three  separate  times  he 
went  through  this  motion;  the  last  time  when  the  Corporal 
opened  his  eyes,  the  countenance  of  the  Rebel  had  completely 
changed;  he  threw  down  the  musket  and  said,  "For  God's 
sake,  what  am  I  thinking  of?  I  may  be  where  you  are  to 
morrow."  He  took  the  canteen,  bathed  the  Corporal's  brow, 
gave  him  a  drink,  and  then  got  a  little  pine  bush  which  he 
inserted  in  the  ground  to  keep  the  sun  off  and  said,  "I  will 
send  an  ambulance  for  you  when  I  get  into  camp."  The 
Corporal  was  soon  taken  to  a  camp  of  wounded  Rebels,  where 
he  was  the  only  Union  soldier  present. 

The  official  reports  of  the  battles  in  the  Wilderness  and 
thence  onward,  so  far  as  our  Regiment  are  concerned,  are 
sadly  lacking.  They  are  mere  generalizations,  scarcely  touch- 


280  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

ing  a  regiment,  not  to  mention  an  individual.  That  of  Gen. 
Geo.  W.  Getty,  commanding  the  Second  Division,  with  which 
our  Brigade  was  joined  at  the  beginning  of  the  struggle, 
(R.  R.  Series  I,  Vol.  XXXVI,  Part  I,  pp.  672,673)  is  clear  and 
direct  but  adds  nothing  to  the  story  already  told.  Returning 
to  the  annals  of  the  Regiment  which  were  dropped  for  Colonel 
Parsons's  sketch,  we  find  the  men  at  noon  of  the  21st  with 
drawing  skirmishers,  abandoning  the  front  line  and  reforming 
in  the  rear  line  of  pits,  our  places  being  taken  by  other  troops. 
At  6.00  p.  m.  the  enemy  charged  and  forced  back  the  skir 
mishers,  but  our  artillery  opened  and  a  speedy  end  was  made 
of  the  hostile  move.  At  night  we  moved  off  on  the  Bowling 
Green  road.  The  next  day  (22d)  we  passed  the  house  in  which 
Stonewall  Jackson  was  said  to  have  died,  and  marched  a  few 
miles  beyond  Guinea's  Station;  at  night  with  battle  line  formed 
we  halted  under  arms. 

Though  we  packed  early  on  the  23d,  we  did  not  advance 
until  about  8.00  a.  m.,  being  the  very  foremost  guard.  After 
a  march  of  two  or  three  miles  we  reached  the  North  Anna 
River  and  heard  brisk  firing  on  the  other  side.  Here  our 
supply  trains  reached  us  and  we  drew  five  days'  rations.  The 
24th  found  us  up  before  daylight;  we  crossed  the  river  and 
marched  to  Little  River  where  we  formed  in  line  of  battle  in 
the  rear  of  the  Fifth  Corps  and  commenced  fortifying.  There 
was  firing  on  our  left  and  in  front  skirmishing  was  evident. 
At  5.00  p.  m.  advancing  to  a  piece  of  woods  we  bivouacked 
for  the  night.  On  the  25th  we  were  off  at  8.00  a.  m.  to  the  left, 
and  crossed  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad  at  Chesterfield 
Station.  Thence  advancing  about  three  miles,  we  formed  in 
battle  line,  sensible  of  considerable  skirmishing  in  our  imme 
diate  front.  Here  we  saw  the  skillful  manner  in  which  railroad 
tracks  were  torn  up  and  the  rails,  heated  and  bent,  rendered 
wholly  unfit  for  future  use.  We  dug  rifle  pits  near  New  Found 
River,  in  plain  sight  of  the  enemy's  pickets  on  the  other  side 
of  the  stream.  During  the  26th,  we  continued  our  digging 
but  after  dark  we  packed  up  and  at  10.00  p.  m.  marched  back 
to  the  North  Anna,  crossed  the  same  and  pushed  along  for 


MAY  27-29,  '64  TOWARDS  COLD  HARBOR  281 

twenty  miles  to  within  about  three  miles  of  the  Pamunkey 
River.  Owing  to  recent  rains  and  the  clayish  nature  of  the 
soil  the  marching  was  very  difficult. 

Daylight  of  the  27th  brought  us  to  a  halt  and  the  distribution 
of  one  day's  rations  and  then  on  we  went  again.  The  hot  sun, 
at  last  struggling  forth  from  the  clouds,  shone  down  upon  us 
through  the  humid  air  until  endurance  seemed  to  be  taxed 
almost  to  its  limit.  Halting  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
the  cavalry  told  us  we  were  not  yet  at  the  Pamunkey.  Vir 
ginian  distances  always  were  disappointing!  Had  these 
soldiers  been  farm  boys  at  home,  they  would  not  have  been 
called  earlier  than  the  bugle  blast  summoned  them  each 
morning  on  this  flank  movement.  There  was  some  comfort 
in  the  thought  that  the  Johnnies  had  to  get  up  just  as  early. 
Daybreak  on  the  28th  beheld  the  lines  formed,  the  march 
resumed  and,  after  a  detour  of  several  miles,  the  Pamunkey 
was  crossed  at  9.00  a.  m.  We  rested  an  hour  and  then  pro 
ceeded  a  mile  and  a  half  to  the  vicinity  of  Hanover  Town 
where  a  good  position  was  found  in  a  range  of  hills;  battle 
line  was  formed  and  fortifying  began.  As  soldiers,  many  of 
those  men  were  having  their  first  experience  with  spade  and 
shovel,  at  times  being  glad  to  use  even  spoons  and  tin  plates 
for  purposes  of  safety.  Firing  in  the  front  proclaimed  our 
friends,  the  enemy,  near,  and  for  that  matter,  when  had 
they  failed  to  stick  even  closer  than  a  brother? — though,  possi 
bly  for  other  than  fraternal  reasons.  Divided  into  reliefs,  we 
dug  the  night  away.  Some  portions  of  the  Corps  were  unsup- 
plied  with  rations,  thus  adding  to  their  hardships. 

May  29th  had  its  regular  sunrise  start  after  the  simplest 
kind  of  a  breakfast,  since  rations  were  becoming  scarce. 
Those  who  had  coffee  refreshed  themselves  thus,  and  those 
who  had  hard-tack  ate  it,  but  many  could  only  pull  their  belts 
up  a  notch  and  grumble  over  the  carelessness  of  quartermasters 
and  the  great  length  of  the  day.  In  this  connection,  it  was 
largely  the  running  of  day  into  the  night  that  was  responsible 
for  the  shortage,  since,  according  to  the  quartermaster's 
reckoning,  there  were  still  two  days'  rations  in  the  haversacks, 


'282  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

but  men  could  not  dig  and  throw  up  earth  all  night  on  empty 
stomachs,  not  if  there  was  a  mouthful  of  food  to  be  had  any 
where.  In  the  afternoon,  we  moved  out  to  support  the  First 
Division  which  had  started  early  to  find  the  Rebels,  or  failing 
them,  to  tap  the  Virginia  Central  Railroad.  The  wearers  of 
the  red  cross  (the  badge  of  the  First  Division)  were  found 
after  dark  near  Hanover  Court  House,  very  near  the  birth 
place  of  Henry  Clay.  The  men  had  spent  the  most  of  the 
afternoon  in  destroying  the  railroad,  i.  e.,  tearing  up  the  track 
and  on  great  cob  piles  made  of  the  ties  and  fired,  heated  the 
rails  to  redness  and  then  made  of  each  one  a  letter  U,  by 
bending  it  around  a  near-by  tree. 

Monday,  the  30th  of  May,  was  a  long  and  busy  day,  for  the 
morning  summons  came  before  daylight,  but  breakfast 
preparation  was  short  since  the  most  of  us  had  none  to  prepare. 
From  a  neighboring  barn,  a  detail  brought  some  corn  on  the 
cob,  and  very  limited  must  be  the  experience  of  the  soldier 
in  that  campaign  who  could  not  tell  stories  of  robbing  cavalry 
and  artillery  horses  for  a  taste  of  hard  corn  on  the  ear.  How 
ever,  roasted  over  a  fire  of  coals,  it  was  a  deal  better  than 
nothing.  After  sunrise  we  marched  to  Peake's  Station  where 
Rebel  cavalry  was  found,  but  their  presence  did  not  prevent 
careful  foraging,  resulting  in  the  capture  and  slaughter  of 
sundry  pigs  and  poultry.  The  object  of  the  trip  being  the 
destruction  of  several  small  buildings,  this  was  accomplished 
by  burning;  we  also  secured  a  day's  rations  and  the  Tenth 
had  to  take  the  front  as  skirmishers.  We  also  helped  capture 
2,000  bushels  of  corn,  a  rare  find  for  the  horses  whose  rations, 
always  scarce,  some  of  us  had  been  sharing.  Our  next  move 
was  backwards  towards  Phelp's  Mills,  the  Tenth  being  rear 
guard,  that  condition  being  reached  through  an  "about 
face."  Captain  Bishop  and  his  Company  A  were  in  the  rear 
of  the  Regiment,  and  they  had  a  lively  time  with  the  enemy's 
cavalry  all  the  way  to  the  Mills  on  Crump's  Creek,  where  we 
found  our  Brigade,  three  other  regiments  and  a  battery. 
Again  we  were  treated  to  rations,  a  supply  for  three  days, 
-and  equally  acceptable  was  the  arrival  of  a  mail  with  letters 


JUNE  1,  '64  COLD  HARBOR  283 

and  papers  from  home.  Though  the  hour  was  late,  and  we 
would  not  rest  till  after  midnight,  each  man  found  the  con 
tents  of  his  precious  letters  ere  he  closed  his  eyes  in  sleep.  The 
last  day  of  that  long  and  eventful  May  was  passed  in  a  greater 
degree  of  quiet  than  had  been  our  lot  since  crossing  the 
Rapidan,  though  firing  was  heard  on  our  left  and,  at  dusk, 
we  were  ordered  to  pack  up  and  to  be  ready  to  march.  How 
ever,  we  finished  the  day  and  the  month  in  that  bivouac. 

COLD  HARBOR 

"I  have  always  regretted  that  the  last  assault  at  Cold 
Harbor  was  ever  made."  These  are  the  words  of  General 
Grant  in  his  reflections  upon  the  sanguinary  struggle  which 
added  13,000  men  to  the  fearful  aggregate  of  the  60,000  loss 
from  the  Wilderness  to  Petersburg.  What  must  have  been 
the  confidence  of  the  North  in  this  later  Charles  Martel,  when 
it  continued  to  add  its  thousands  to  his  depleted  ranks  and, 
no  matter  what  the  issue  of  the  day,  nor  how  many  "lay 
ghastly  pale  beneath  the  setting  sun,"  his  host  was  ever 
increasing,  as  though  some  magician's  wand  were  evoking  a 
never  ending  stream  of  soldiery  from  the  home  land  or  had 
the  power  to  revive  the  fallen.  The  name  of  the  battle,  drawn 
from  that  of  the  locality,  has  long  puzzled  those  who  ramble 
among  words — Lossing  even  calling  it  "Cool  Arbor"  while 
others  use  "Coal"  Harbor.  Really  the  combination  is  a 
common  one  along  certain  ways  in  England,  where  no  less 
than  seventy  such  may  be  found,  there  the  interpretation  being 
"shelter  without  fire."  The  fact  that  the  settlers  here  were 
entirely  English  will  readily  account  for  the  name  but,  so  far 
as  its  application  to  the  Union  soldier  was  concerned,  he 
there  had  fire  in  plenty  but  no  shelter  at  all. 

Determined  to  turn  the  Confederate  right  and  thus  inter 
pose  himself  between  Lee  and  Richmond,  Grant  deemed  it 
necessary  to  cross  the  Chickahominy ;  and  once  more  the 
Union  Army  found  itself  just  where  it  was  in  1862  and  the 
impending  battle  covered  portions  of  the  great  engagement 
of  Gaines's  Mill  in  the  list  of  Seven  Days'  Fighting.  Many  of 


284  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

the  army  recognized  former  scenes  and,  no  doubt,  recalled 
the  repetitions  for  which  history  is  noted.  That  the  battle 
finally  resolved  itself  into  a  siege  and  that,  having  raised  the 
same,  Grant  carried  his  forces  much  further  to  the  southward 
and,  crossing  the  James,  pressed  the  Capital  from  the  South, 
is  well  known  to  every  participant  in  the  war,  and  to  every 
one  who  has  ever  so  little  followed  that  bloody  trail  from  the 
Rapidan  to  the  James.  Sheridan  had  engaged  the  cavalry 
of  the  enemy  and  his  advanced  guard  earlier  in  the  day,  June 
1st,  thus  developing  his  presence,  and  it  was  hoped  that  the 
Union  troops  might  reach  the  position  early  enough  to  secure 
the  approaches  to  the  Chickahominy  River,  so  essential  to 
the  Commander's  plans.  The  Sixth  Corps  was  in  advance 
and  on  its  way  encountered  reinforcements  from  the  Army 
of  the  James,  Butler's  command,  consisting  of  the  18th  Corps 
and  a  part  of  the  Tenth  under  the  lead  of  Gen.  W.  F.  Smith 
who,  with  Gen.  W.  T.  H.  Brooks,  were  greeted  as  old  acquaint 
ances  of  the  Peninsular  Campaign.  There  was  only  a  short 
halt  on  reaching  the  scene  of  the  cavalry  encounter.  The 
right  was  held  by  Smith  and  his  forces  while  Wright  and  the 
Sixth  Corps  were  placed  upon  the  left.  In  that  Union  left, 
Ricketts  and  the  Third  Division  were  on  the  right,  Russell 
and  his  First  Division  were  in  the  center,  Neill  and  the  Second 
were  at  the  left.  In  front  of  our  position  was  an  open  space 
beyond  which  were  woods  in  which  the  Confederates  under 
Longstreet  were  intrenched. 

The  Tenth  Regiment  made  its  accustomed  early  start  on 
the  1st  of  June  and,  by  dint  of  a  forced  march,  reached  Cold 
Harbor  at  three  in  the  afternoon.  After  a  rest,  lines  were 
formed,  the  Tenth  and  the  37th  in  the  first,  and  the  Seventh 
and  Second  Rhode  Island  in  the  second;  our  Brigade  expect 
ing  to  support  that  of  the  Vermonters  in  the  assault.  There 
was  a  furious  artillery  duel  for  some  time  which,  as  was  often 
the  case,  was  more  noisy  than  harmful,  though  O.  E.  Cutting 
of  Company  A  was  seriously,  and  three  others  were  slightly 
injured.  As  the  Rebels  now  appeared  in  force  on  the  left 
flank,  our  Brigade  was  sent  to  oppose,  going  at  a  double  quick 


JUNE  1-2,  '64  COLD  HARBOR  285 

and  taking  a  position  to  head  off  the.  attack.  We  were  so 
quick  in  this  movement,  the  enemy  was  completely  checked, 
we  suffering  but  very  little  loss.  Thereupon,  we  laid  down  our 
guns  and  took  up  the  shovel,  in  our  familiar  labor  of  making 
breastworks.  Meanwhile  the  fight  had  raged  fiercely  on  the 
right  of  our  Corps,  the  Third  Division  and  Smith's  array 
pressing  their  wray  over  the  first  line  of  hostile  trenches, 
capturing  several  hundred  prisoners.* 

In  the  forenoon  of  the  2d,  our  portion  of  the  left  was 
relieved  by  the  Second  Corps  and  our  Division,  passing  over 
to  the  right  of  the  Third  Division,  relieved  a  part  of  the  18th 
Corps.  Here,  too,  we  threw  up  works  and  prepared  to  remain 
through  the  night.  Sharpshooters  were  putting  in  their 
deadly  work  and  it  was  impossible  to  get  a  canteen  of  water 
without  crawling  on  hands  and  knees,  Indian  like,  thus  escap 
ing  the  eyes  of  the  tree-perched  adversary.  We  expected  to 
charge  the  enemy  in  our  immediate  front,  but  the  extreme 
weariness  of  the  Sixth  Corps  and  Smith's  forces,  through  the 
fighting  and  fortifying  of  the  day  before,  together  with  a 
heavy  fall  of  rain,  just  before  the  hour  set  for  the  advance, 
caused  a  postponement  of  the  attack.  Julius  A.  Cushman, 
Company  A,  was  wounded  in  the  arm  that  day. 

Orders  were  given  for  a  simultaneous  attack  along  the  entire 
line  at  4.30  in  the  morning  of  the  od.  This  line  extended  from 
Cold  Harbor  to  the  Tolopotamy  Creek,  a  distance  of  several 


*June  1st  we  made  a  forced  march  to  Cold  Harbor,  some  fifteen  miles. 
It  was  excessively  hot,  the  roads  very  dry  and  dusty  and  it  was  a 
wearisome  march.  Before  we  got  near  the  battle  field  we  could  hear 
a  tremendous  roar  of  artillery  and  we  knew  that  something  had  got 
to  happen.  The  Vermonters  made  the  charge  (I  think  that  was  the 
best  brigade  in  the  Army  of  the  Potomac)  and  we  were  to  be  their 
support.  My  regiment  began  to  cheer.  What  could  they  be  cheering 
about?  I  looked  around  and  there  stood  General  Devens  and  his 
staff.  Each  regiment  in  the  brigade  cheered  him  as  he  passed,  while 
the  cannon  thundered  at  the  front.  At  the  last  reunion  of  the  brigade 
Devens  spoke  of  this  incident  and  said  it  made  him  glad  to  think  that 
the  boys  remembered  him,  but  also  sad  as  he  saw  the  thin  ranks  of 
his  old  brigade  marching  to  the  front  with  the  same  old  swinging  step 
to  take  position.  Those  of  you  who  were  at  Cold  Harbor  will  agree 
with  me  that  it  was  the  worst  position  that  the  regiment  was  ever  in. 
— From  Colonel  'Parsons' s  Loyal  Legion  Address. 


286  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

miles.  The  Army  Corps  in  order  from  left  to  right  were, 
Second,  Sixth,  Eighteenth,  Fifth  and  Ninth,  the  line  being 
nearly  parallel  to  the  Chickahominy  and  about  a  mile  and  a 
half  north  of  it.  The  preceding  day  had  not  been  idly  spent 
by  the  foe  but  exacting  labor  had  been  done  in  strengthening 
his  works  till,  with  the  low  and  swampy  ground  intervening, 
they  had  become  practically  impregnable.  The  assault  along 
the  entire  front  took  place  not  later  than  4.45  a.  m.,  and 
within  half  an  hour  thousands  lay  dead  or  grievously  wounded 
in  front  of  the  Rebel  works.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  was  com 
paratively  light.  It  was  fully  demonstrated  that  the  works 
could  not  be  taken.  Swinton  says  of  that  incident : 

It  took  hardly  more  than  ten  minutes  of  the  figment  men 
call  time  to  decide  the  battle.  There  was  along  the  whole  line 
a  rush — the  spectacle  of  impregnable  works — a  bloody  loss — 
then  a  sullen  falling  back,  and  the  action  was  decided. 

The  action,  as  I  have  said,  was  decided  in  an 
incredibly  brief  time  in  the  morning's  assault.  But  rapidly 
as  the  result  was  reached  it  was  decisive ;  for  the  consciousness 
of  every  man  pronounced  further  assault  hopeless.  The  troops 
went  forward  as  far  as  the  "example  of  their  officers  could 
carry  them,"  (Hancock)  nor  was  it  possible  to  urge  them 
beyond;  for  there  they  knew  lay  only  death,  without  even 
the  chance  for  victory.  The  completeness  with  which  this 
judgment  had  been  reached  by  the  whole  army  was  strik 
ingly  illustrated  by  an  incident  which  occurred  in  the  forenoon. 
Some  hours  after  the  failure  of  the  first  assault,  General 
Meade  sent  instructions  to  each  Corps  commander  to  renew 
the  attack  without  reference  to  the  troops  on  his  right  or  left. 
The  orders  were  issued  through  these  officers  to  the  subordi 
nate  commanders,  and  from  them  descended  through  the 
whole  command;  but  no  man  stirred,  and  the  immobile  lines 
pronounced  a  verdict,  silent  yet  emphatic,  against  further 
slaughter. 

The  Tenth  was  in  the  second  line  and  its  loss  was  principally 
from  the  sharpshooters,  the  casualties  being  as  follows: 

Company  G — Killed,  John  H.  Baltz.  Wounded,  Chauncey 
M.  Gowdy,  thigh,  severe. 

Company  B — Wounded,  Sergt.  Wm.  H.  Cousens,  finger. 


JUNE  3-7,  '64  COLD  HARBOR  287 

Company  E — Wounded,  Corp.  Thos.  Dobyns,  color  guard, 
arm,  severe. 

Company  I — Sergt.  Napoleon  Trudeau,  hit  on  back  of  head 
by  a  solid  twelve  Ib.  shot  which  rolled  over  the  rifle  pits; 
though  knocked  senseless  his  cranium  withstood  the  blow 
and  the  wound  was  not  dangerous. 

Though  the  army  remained  here  until  the  llth  and  12th 
of  the  month,  strongly  intrenching  itself,  and  though  there 
were  charges  and  countercharges,  flags  of  truce  for  burial 
of  the  dead,  and  many  cases  of  death  and  wounds  by  sharp- 
shooting,  the  battle  was  over  on  the  3d.  So  far  as  our  Regi 
ment  was  concerned,  we  were  constantly  exposed  and  grew 
used  to  it.  On  the  4th,  Anthony  Liddy,  Company  H,  was 
killed  and  J.  W.  Pike,  Company  B,  severely  wounded  in  the 
thigh.  Towards  night,  the  enemy  assailed  our  right  but  were 
speedily  repulsed  with  loss.  At  nightfall,  the  Tenth  relieved 
the  37th  on  picket,  a  duty  here  altogether  shorn  of  the  pleas 
ures  we  used  to  have  around  Brandy  Station.  June  5th  was 
given  entirely  to  the  rifle  pits  where  the  pickets  lay.  So 
closely  did  we  keep  our  places  we  had  no  time  to  say  "good 
bye"  to  the  boys  of  the  Second  Rhode  Island  who,  that  day, 
through  expiration  of  service,  were  withdrawn  from  the  line 
and  departed  for  home.  There  seemed  to  be  a  gradual 
movement  of  the  army  towards  the  left. 

On  the  6th  a  flag  of  truce  was  up,  that  the  dead,  lying  be 
tween  the  lines  for  four  days,  might  be  buried,  and  the  men  of 
both  sides  exchanged  kindly  greetings  with  each  other. 
There  was  no  apparent  hardness,  for  we  could  have  no  personal 
difference.  James  Cormick  of  Company  A  was  killed  that  day. 
At  night  the  Johnnies  stormed  that  part  of  the  line  held  by 
Burnside  but  without  success.  The  enemy  occupied  works 
in  an  open  field ;  we  were  in  pits  in  the  woods.  That  was 
the  7th  of  June,  and  since  the  first  day  we  had  been 
constantly  under  fire,  except  a  few  hours  the  preceding  day 
when  we  moved  back  out  of  range  and  washed  up.  Every 
night  our  works  were  extended  and  advanced;  our  pits  faced 
all  ways,  save  to  the  rear,  and  traverses  from  every  pit  were 


288  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

to  protect  us  from  cross  fires.  The  Confederates  kept  up  a 
constant  fusilade  of  musketry  and  cannonading.  As  the 
works  were  not  any  too  high,  men  in  coming  and  going  for 
any  purpose  had  to  practice  a  posture  illustrative  of  stooping 
to  conquer.  Charles  L.  Hartwell  of  Company  I,  wounded  in 
the  Wilderness,  had  come  back  to  duty,  but  received  another 
slight  wound  in  the  shoulder  that  day.  On  the  8th  First 
Sergt.  Wm.  H.  Loomis,  Company  K,  was  slightly  wounded  in 
the  wrist. 

Thus  the  story  proceeds  until  the  1 1th  when  the  army  began 
its  final  flank  movement,  again  tending  towards  the  left.  The 
Tenth  and  other  regiments  were  on  picket  the  12th,  while  their 
friends  in  blue  were  filing  out.  During  the  night  many 
missiles  were  sent  into  our  camps  by  the  enemy,  but  it  was  a 
harmless  diversion  for  them,  since,  for  the  most  part,  the  same 
were  empty,  the  former  occupants  having  started  on  their 
way  to  the  James  River.  The  13th  found  our  Regiment  well 
under  way  and  we  crossed  the  Chickahominy  at  Jones's  Bridge, 
that  being  strictly  the  last  appearance  of  the  Tenth  on  those 
scenes.  The  whole  army  was  on  its  way  towards  Turkey 
Bend  on  the  James.  We  joined  our  Brigade  on  the  14th  at 
Charles  City  Court  House,  a  name  that  smacked  strongly  of 
days  more  than  two  years  before.  We  were  near  the  old  home 
of  John  Tyler,  the  first  accidental  President  of  the  United 
States.  Mention  has  already  been  made  of  the  way  the  his 
toric  homes  of  former  chief  executives  from  the  Old  Dominion 
had  fared  in  the  strife.  Only  Monroe's  apparently  escaped; 
Montpelier,  the  home  of  Madison,  was  in  the  very  midst  of 
all  the  operations  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  though  there 
is  no  record  that  it  was  ever  in  the  least  molested,  for  those 
northern  men  had  the  utmost  respect  for  the  old-time  Presi 
dents  ;  but  for  John  Tyler,  who  had  figured  in  the  so-called 
Peace  Convention,  they  had  none  at  all.  His  once  delightful 
home,  through  the  visits  of  the  soldiers,  had  become  a  scene 
of  desolation;  books  and  papers  strewed  the  floors,  and  many 
a  bit  of  crockery  from  his  china  shelves  found  its  way  north 
ward  as  a  souvenir  of  that  day's  tarrying  near  the  home  of  a 
former  dweller  in  the-  White  House. 


JUNE  16,  '64  CROSSING  THE  JAMES  289 

There  was  roll  call  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  15th 
and  a  short  march  towards  the  right,  halting  in  a  corn  field; 
two  other  short  changes  and  we  bivouacked  in  a  field  of  clover. 
The  surroundings  were  very  attractive  and  we  could  not  help 
admiring  the  taste  of  the  Cavaliers  who  chose  these  shores  for 
homes,  so  different  from  the  bleak  and  storm-beaten  coast 
where  the  Pilgrim  planted  his  home.  Fields  of  standing  grain, 
almost  ripe  for  the  harvest,  greeted  the  eye,  and  meadows  as 
green  as  heart  could  wish.  The  very  houses  indicated  the 
ease  and  comfort  in  which  the  planters  had  lived,  while  the 
array  of  squalid  huts,  clustered  near,  told  of  the  curse  of 
slavery  on  account  of  which  these  thousands  of  men  were  so 
many  miles  from  their  own  abodes.  That  day  departed  the 
last,  except  ourselves,  of  the  original  brigade,  formed  so  long 
ago  in  the  defenses,  since  the  Seventh  Massachusetts  there 
drew  out  of  line  and  started  for  the  country  that  somehow 
seemed  dearer  than  anything  thereabouts,  no  matter  how 
much  Heaven  might  have  smiled  upon  it. 

The  16th  marked  another  step  southward,  since  we  crossed 
the  James  River  at  Wilcox's  Landing,  on  one  of  the  longest 
pontoon  bridges  ever  laid.  Troops  had  been  crossing  by 
means  of  a  ferry  but  it  was  slow  work  compared  with  the  steady 
stream  of  humanity  that  now  advanced  into  the  new  theatre 
of  war.  The  march  across  the  Peninsula  of  fifty-five  miles 
had  been  accomplished  with  ease  and  now  we  were  using  a 
bridge  of  boats  really  a  triumph  of  engineering,  over  2,000 
feet  in  length,  the  boats  in  the  channel  being  anchored  in 
thirteen  fathoms  of  water.  Begun  in  the  forenoon  of  the  14th 
it  was  finished  by  midnight.  How  neat  and  clean  the  marines 
and  sailors  looked  as  they  sat  in  the  pontoons,  keeping  careful 
watch  over  their  charges  and  their  good  nature  was  greatly 
to  their  credit,  as  they  laughed  at  the  constant  chaffing 
received  from  the  passing  battle  and  travel  stained  soldiers. 
We  halted  long  enough  after  crossing  to  draw  a  day's  rations 
and  then  marched  on  until  midnight.  The  First  and  Third 
Divisions  of  the  Sixth  Corps  had  taken  transports,  ostensibly 
for  City  Point,  but  they  landed  at  Bermuda  Hundred  to  assist 
General  Butler  in  some  move  that  he  was  making. 


290  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

During  that  16th  day  of  June  and  the  17th,  Gen.  W.  F. 
Smith  with  assistance  from  the  Second  Corps  was  beginning 
the  attack  on  Petersburg,  which  was  to  settle  into  a  siege  to 
last  for  ten  long  months  of  whose  early  moments  only,  the 
Regiment  had  a  taste.  Owing  to  misunderstanding  of  orders, 
the  advance  of  the  18th  Corps  was  not  as  rapid  as  expected 
and  the  topography  of  the  region  was  not  according  to  the 
maps  furnished  General  Hancock,  hence  the  delay  and  the 
siege;  still  it  mattered  very  little  where  the  battles  were 
fought,  just  about  so  much  blood  had  to  be  shed,  the  Con 
federacy  had  to  be  worn  to  shreds  before  the  end  could  come, 
and  right  there,  about  the  devoted  city  of  Petersburg,  the 
struggle  was  to  proceed.  Twenty-five  miles  of  marching  was 
the  record  for  that  day.  We  were  less  than  a  league  from  the 
city  itself,  and  thought  we  had  earned  a  rest;  but  those  in 
authority  differed  for  we  were  ordered  out  at  10.00  p.  m.  to 
support  the  picket  line,  Col.  D.  J.  Nevin  (62d  New  York) 
thinking  he  could  not  hold  his  position. 

The  18th  of  June  found  the  Regiment  near  the  scenes  of 
war,  though  during  the  night  the  foe  had  withdrawn  from 
the  nearest  works  which  we  proceeded  to  occupy,  with  more 
or  less  skirmishing  until  2.00  p.  m.,  when  lines  were  formed 
with  Wheaton's  (First)  Brigade  in  the  first,  and  the  Fourth 
Brigade  in  the  second  line,  having  the  18th  Corps  on  our  right 
and  the  Second  on  our  left.  Advancing,  we  carried  a  line 
of  works,  recently  thrown  up  by  the  Rebels,  thus  gaining  about 
half  a  mile  in  our  front.  The  first  line  of  battle  suffered  most, 
as  might  be  expected,  though  there  was  a  record  of  seven 
wounded  in  our  Regiment.  It  was  our  last  day  of  facing  the 
Confederates,  for  at  its  close  we  were  relieved  from  duty  on 
the  firing  line  and,  withdrawing  to  the  rear,  encamped  near 
Corps  headquarters.  Of  himself,  Colonel  Parsons  wrote  that 
he  had  passed  through  the  campaign  until  this  advance  on 
Petersburg,  without  the  touch  of  a  Rebel  missile,  but  here  he 
was  hit  in  the  chest,  though  a  steel  match  safe  saved  his  life, 
while  a  dozen  bullets  went  through  his  clothing  and  hat. 

While  relieved  from  further  service  and  awaiting  orders  to 


JUNE  20,  '64  PETERSBURG  291 

move  to  City  Point,  our  thoughts  fixed  on  home  rather  than 
conflict,  it  was  decreed  that  the  Tenth  should  pay  yet  one 
more  tribute  to  the  spirit  of  war.  During  the  morning,  while 
sitting  and  waiting,  Sergeant  Major  Policy  amused  himself 
by  cutting  his  name  with  the  additional  words,  ''killed  June 
— ,  1864,"  upon  a  piece  of  board,  torn  from  the  top  of  a  cracker 
box.  Having  re-enlisted,  and  even  then  a  commission  being 
on  its  way  to  him,  he  was  not  journeying  to  Massachusetts 
with  his  comrades,  but  was  having  a  "good-bye"  time  with 
many  of  the  men.  Unexpectedly,  a  battery  across  the  Appo- 
mattox  opened  fire  and,  we  proving  to  be  in  range,  a  shell 
struck  Policy  full  in  the  abdomen.  A  friend  rushed  at  once 
to  his  side,  but  he  was  beyond  help,  though  he  was  carried 
upon  a  stretcher  over  the  hill  where  he  soon  died.  To  mark 
his  grave,  this  same  comrade  made  search  for  the  board  which 
the  young  officer  had  carved  in  the  morning,  but  was  told  by 
the  Captain  of  Company  H  that  Policy  had  himself  cut  it  up 
and  with  it  cooked  his  coffee.  Wm.  Winter  of  Company  F, 
a 'man  clever  with  his  knife,  carved  the  inscription  for  the 
headboard  and  that,  at  City  Point,  marked  the  resting  place 
of  the  Regiment's  last  man  killed.  Ever  a  favorite,  the  death 
of  the  gallant  soldier  cast  a  deep  shadow  over  the  joyous  hours 
of  starting  for  home.  June  21st,  the  third  anniversary  of  the 
muster-in  of  the  Tenth,  found  the  men  in  City  Point  where, 
after  burying  the  body  of  Sergeant  Major  Policy,  they  took 
the  mail  boat  for  Washington.  Their  re-enlisted  comrades 
had  already  been  transferred  to  the  ranks  of  the  37th  Massa 
chusetts,  where  they  maintained  the  high  standard  of  their 
former  organization,  participated  in  all  the  combats  of  the 
Sixth  Corps  through  the  Valley,  the  siege  of  Petersburg,  the 
forcing  of  the  lines,  the  pursuit,  the  final  battle  of  Sailor's 
Creek  and  the  supreme  triumph  at  Appomattox. 

Coming  and  going  has  been  the  lot  of  humanity  from  the 
beginning;  the  boy  essays  his  first  absence  and,  when  he 
homeward  turns  his  face,  how  his  heart  glows  at  the  thought 
of  the  glad  greeting  that  awaits  him  at  the  fireside.  But  when, 
a  little  older  grown,  he  dons  the  garb  of  a  soldier,  endures  all 


292  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

the  privations  of  three  long  years  of  active  campaigning,  such 
as  marching,  camping,  fighting;  ever  obeying  orders  and 
following  the  flag;  when  at  last  there  comes  to  him  the 
welcome  plaudit,  "Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant "  and, 
with  the  proud  consciousness  of  duty  completely  done,  he 
begins  the  journey  homeward,  there  comes  into  his  soul  a 
feeling  of  happiness  such  as  no  other  being  in  this  whole 
wide  world  possesses.  For  all  such  there  is  promised: 

"Home!  Home!  a  happy  welcome — welcome  home  for  thee! 

And  kisses  of  love  for  thee — 

And  a  mother's  happy,  happy  tears,  and  a  virgin's  bridal  wreath 
of  flowers — • 

For  thee."* 

However  rapidly  the  trains  bore  the  returning  soldiers,  they 
did  not  move  fast  enough.  After  many  days,  these  builders 
of  Fort  Stevens  and  long  sojourners  in  the  District  of  Columbia 
again  trod  the  streets  of  the  Nation's  Capital,  arriving  on  the 
22d.  Soon  afterwards  they  moved  out  by  way  of  Baltimore 
to  Philadelphia,  where  Cooper-Shop  hospitality  wrote  the 
"City  of  Brotherly  Love"  deep  in  each  loyal  heart,  and  then 
the  cars  conveyed  them  to  New  York,  proud  metropolis  of 
this  Western  World,  to  linger  there  a  few  hours  until,  late  in 
the  afternoon  of  Friday,  the  24th,  they  embarked  on  the 
Hartford  steamer  for  a  ride  up  the  Sound  and  the  Connecticut 
River  towards  the  place  they  longed  most  to  see,  viz,  Spring 
field.  They  were  sleeping  when  they  entered  the  river,  Indian 
named,  the  Connecticut,  and  they  heard  not  the  several 
Haddams  as  the  boat  made  her  accustomed  stops,  nor  yet 
Middletown,  hill  enshrined,  but  there  was  no  delay  in  their 
disembarking  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  Saturday, 
the  25th,  when  the  steamer  reached  the  wharf  in  the  Capital 
city,  nor  was  there  loss  of  time  as  they,  after  a  hasty  breakfast, 
filled  the  waiting  extra  train  and  sped  away  to  the  place  whence 
they  had  departed  three  weary  years  before. 


*Forceythe  Wilson  in  "Boy  Britton." 


JUNE  25,  '64  SPRINGFIELD  293 

HOME 

For  many  a  day  people  ceased  not  to  tell  of  the  reception 
accorded  the  Tenth  Regiment  when  its  sadly  diminished 
ranks  paraded  the  street,  through  which,  three  years  before, 
they  had  marched  a  thousand  strong.  Not  even  one  of  the 
many  Fourths  of  July  so  brilliantly  celebrated  began  to  equal 
the  brilliancy  of  that  reception.  As  early  as  Thursday  pre 
parations  had  begun,  all  through  Friday  they  continued  till 
then,  when  the  Regiment  was  there,  the  streets  were  a  blaze 
of  glory.  The  flag,  the  glorious  ensign  behind  and  under 
which  these  men  had  fought,  was  everywhere  and  in  a  thous 
and  ways  these  people  were  anxious  to  tell  the  returning 
brave  how  glad  they  were  for  the  privilege.  While  some 
buildings  excelled  others,  all  contributed  something  to  the 
magnificent  whole.  In  front  of  L.  J.  Powers's  were  two  hand 
some  festoons  inclosing  the  words,  "The  gallant  Tenth,"  and 
"Honor  to  the  Brave;"  over  Main  street,  near  the  corner  of 
Lyman,  an  arch  bearing  on  each  side  the  words  in  evergreen, 
"Welcome  Home"  had  also  pendent  from  the  center  a  wreath 
inclosing  a  shield  and  on  its  top  a  golden  eagle ;  again  appeared 
the  words  "Hail  the  Tenth"  and  "Welcome  Home"  in  the 
windows  of  Dearden's  crockery  store  in  Fort  block;  there 
were  many  others,  all  expressive  of  the  admiration  and  love 
everyone  had  for  the  loyal  men  who  had  now  come  back  to 
their  homes. 

At  9.30  a.  m.,  five  guns  from  Union  Battery  had  announced 
the  departure  of  the  special  train  from  Hartford.  Its  arrival 
in  Springfield  was  proclaimed  by  the  ringing  of  church  bells, 
the  blowing  of  steam  whistles  and  a  salute  from  the  battery 
while  the  multitude  cheered  itself  hoarse.  A  procession  that 
had  formed  on  Court  street  had  marched  down  to  the  station 
with  bands  of  music,  and  countermarching,  halted  in  front  of 
the  Massasoit  block.  The  veterans,  leaving  the  train  on  the 
west  side  or  end  of  the  station,  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  regular 
train  which  had  some  of  the  "boys"  who  had  been  left  in 
Hartford.  Then  all  together  the  line  proceeded  along  Main 


294  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

street  with  the  escort  on  each  side,  everyone  trying  to  rival 
his  fellow  in  the  amount  of  cheering  he  could  do.  W.  S. 
Shurtleff,  late  Colonel  of  the  46th,  was  Chief  Marshal,  having 
an  efficient  staff  of  aides,  and  under  his  direction  was  every 
sort  of  society  and  organization  that  the  city  possessed. 
Representatives  were  also  there  from  Holyoke,  Northampton 
and  other  towns  interested  in  the  Regiment,  but  perhaps  no 
one  gave  the  veterans  themselves  more  pleasure  than  the 
hundred  former  members  of  the  Regiment  under  the  command 
of  Captain  Lombard. 

All  this  array  and  display  were  not  for  a  large  number  of 
veterans,  for  there  were  only  two  hundred  and  twenty  men 
in  the  ranks  and  marching,  with  a  few,  unable  to  walk,  borne  in 
carriages.  While  the  multitude  thus  exulted  there  were  others 
who  looked  on  and  doubtless  cheered  with  the  throng  but 
whose  hearts  were  heavy  for  the  dear  ones  who,  having  fought 
their  last  battle,  could  never  be  awakened  to  glory  again. 
Their  bodies  rested  in  the  soil  they  died  to  save  from  slavery's 
stain,  but  their  souls,  those  loving  friends  that  day  believed, 
were  ever  maching  on.  The  line  passed  to  Union  street  and 
then,  countermarching,  returned  to  Court  Square  and  the 
veterans  stacked  arms  in  front  of  the  Court  House,  near  a 
stand  erected  for  the  occasion.  All  available  space  was  speedily 
occupied  by  the  populace  whom  the  Chief  Marshal  called  to 
order,  introducing  the  Rev.  H.  M.  Parsons  who  offered  prayer. 
The  Armory  cornet  band  played  the  air  of  "America"  twice 
and  then  Mayor  Henry  Alexander  welcomed  the  Regiment 
home  in  eloquent  words,  briefly  rehearsing  the  scenes  through 
which  the  men  had  passed,  dwelling  on  the  debt  of  gratitude 
due  them  and  closing  with  these  words: 

You  are  soon  to  return  once  more  to  the  peaceful  callings 
of  civil  life.  Whatever  may  be  your  fortune  there,  you  will 
remember,  and  we  shall  remember,  that  for  all  our  prosperity 
and  happiness,  for  our  institutions  of  religion  and  learning, 
of  science  and  art,  of  liberty  and  law,  for  the  right  to  be,  and 
to  be  American  freemen,  we  are  indebted  to  the  brave  hearts 
and  strong  arms  of  you,  and  such  as  you.  You  have  strength 
ened  the  arch  stone,  you  have  removed  the  quicksands  and 


JUNE  24,  '64  SPRINGFIELD  295 

laid  deeper  the  foundations  of  the  Republic.  We  welcome  you 
back,  then,  soldiers  and  citizens,  to  a  citizenship  which  your 
valor  has  made  honorable,  to  the  peace  and  quiet  of  civil  life, 
and,  above  all,  we  give  you  a  most  hearty  welcome  to  our 
hearts  and  our  homes. 

To  these  welcoming  words  from  the  Mayor  of  Springfield 
Lieut.  Col.  J.  B.  Parsons  responded  as  follows: 

MR.  MAYOR,  AND  CITIZENS  OF  SPRINGFIELD  AND  WESTERN 
MASSACHUSETTS: — Whoever  you  are,  and  from  wherever  you 
have  come  today,  to  meet  and  welcome  us,  I  have  the  honor, 
as  Commander  of  the  gallant  Tenth  Regiment — for  I  see  you 
call  it  gallant,  and  I  believe  it  has  earned  the  name — to  return 
to  you  our  most  sincere  and  heartfelt  thanks  for  this  reception. 
It  cheers  us  to  meet  with  such  a  greeting,  and  while  this  is  a 
gala  day  for  Springfield,  it  is  no  less  a  gala  day  in  the  history 
of  our  Regiment.  As  we  marched  through  your  streets  today, 
and  saw  everywhere  the  evidences  of  thrift,  we  could  but 
compare  this  city  with  the  desolated  southern  cities  through 
which  we  have  passed.  We  can  appreciate  the  difference 
between  northern  and  southern  cities. 

But,  Mr.  Mayor,  as  we  remember  the  day,  three  years  ago, 
when  we  stood  in  Hampden  Park,  about  to  leave  for  the  war, 
when  we  recall  the  numbers  you  have  sent  to  us,  and  when  we 
look  at  the  shattered  remnant  we  bring  back  to  you — scarcely 
more  than  two  full  companies — we  are  mourners.  We  mourn 
the  loss  of  such  men  as  Miller,  Leland,  Smart,  Day,  Parker, 
Wetherell,  Ashley,  Bartlett,  Midgley,  Munyan,  and  many 
others  equally  brave,  who  fell  fighting  side  by  side  with  them. 
The  sacrifice  is  indeed  great,  but  we  think  our  country  worthy 
of  it.  I  say,  then,  that  I  accept,  in  behalf  of  the  war-worn 
veterans  of  the  Tenth  Regiment,  the  honors  you  have  shown 
us,  and  return  to  you  our  heartfelt  thanks  for  such  a  noble 
reception. 

Then  came  three  great  cheers  for  the  Regiment  with  "Home 
Again"  played  by  the  band  and  then  all  proceeded  to  the  City 
Hall  where  a  great  banquet  had  been  spread  for  the  soldiers 
and  their  friends.  Besides  the  feast  itself,  there  were  other 
attractions,  as  upon  the  platform  there  was  a  double  chorus 
consisting,  on  the  one  hand,  of  thirty-four  girls  from  the  high 
and  grammar  schools,  all  dressed  in  white,  having  red  and 
blue  streamers  and  all  waving  flags;  on  the  other,  of  repre- 


296  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

sentatives  of  both  sexes  from  all  the  choirs  of  the  city,  all  under 
the  direction  of  George  S.  Cheney.  Never  did  the  words  of 
"When  Johnny  Conies  Marching  Home  Again"  seem  more 
appropriate  nor  were  they  ever  more  enthusiastically  received. 
After  grace  by  Chaplain  Perkins,  Colonel  Parsons  said,  "  Boys, 
don't  be  afraid,  this  is  not  hard-tack.  Charge!"  Never  had 
such  a  spread  been  made  for  soldiers  in  that  hall  before,  and 
the  manner  of  its  disappearance  before  the  hunrgy  volunteers 
was  proof  enough  of  their  appreciation.  Enjoyment  and 
digestion  were  furthered  by  the  efforts  of  the  united  choruses 
who  sang  "Rally  Round  the  Flag,  Boys,"  "Star  Spangled 
Banner,"  "Glory  Hallelujah"  and  other  patriotic  airs  to 
many  of  which  the  veterans  contributed  volume  in  the 
respective  refrains. 

Last  of  all  came  a  furlough  until  the  first  of  July,  when  the 
men  were  to  assemble  again  for  muster-out  and  pay.  The 
battery  was  not  unheard  during  the  prandial  exercises  and  its 
salutes  were  appreciated  by  those  for  whom  they  were  fired. 
As  a  small  token  of  good  will,  Capt.  Fred  Barton  presented  a 
Rebel  sabre,  picked  up  on  the  battle  field,  to  Capt.  James 
Wells  of  the  battery.  Myron  P.  Walker,  the  "Little  Drummer- 
Boy,"  after  three  years  of  campaigning,  returned  unharmed, 
and  beat  his  drum  in  a  manner  to  excite  the  admiration  of  all 
other  users  of  the  sticks. 

Many  hearts  were  touched  with  sadness  at  seeing  an  elderly 
lady,  with  a  bouquet  of  flowers  in  her  hands  to  be  given  to  her 
son,  whom  she  expected  to  see  in  the  ranks,  all  unconscious 
that  he  had  been  seriously  wounded  in  a  recent  battle  and 
was  left  behind  in  the  hospital.  And  so  the  day  ended.  The 
reception  lacked  in  nothing  save  for  returning  veterans  to  be 
received.  Those  who  were  there  were  royally  welcomed.  They 
were  bringing  no  captives  home  to  Rome  whose  ransom  should 
the  general  coffers  fill,  but  they  were  illustrating  the  wonders 
of  a  Republican  government  in  whose  behalf  they  had  exposed 
their  lives,  and  now,  with  honor  crowned,  happy  that  they 
had  done  their  full  duty,  and  ready  to  discharge  whatever 
obligation  the  future  might  place  upon  them,  they  were  about 
to  go  to  that  dearest,  most  sacred  place  on  earth,  HOME. 


JUNE  25,  '64  AT  HOME  297 

POSTSCRIPT 

Northampton  met  her  sons,  the  evening  of  the  25th,  as  the 
Springfield  train  came  in,  though  there  was  no  attempt  at  a 
formal  reception,  but  hosts  of  people  proclaimed  the  popular 
interest  while  rousing  cheers  made  happy  the  veterans  them 
selves.  Breaking  up  into  smaller  squads,  neighboring  places 
were  sought  till  finally  the  individual  vanished  in  the  general 
throng  of  humanity.  Belchertown,  more  remote  from  the 
hurrying  center,  was  nevertheless  more  expressive  of  her 
sentiments  than  some  more  populous  localities.  When  the 
train  from  Palmer  brought  home  her  boys,  the  people  were  at 
the  station  and  the  veterans,  including  the  drummer-boy, 
Myron  P.  Walker,  were  greeted  with  hearty  cheers,  while  S. 
W.  Longley,  Esq.,  marshal  of  the  occasion,  made  a  welcoming 
speech.  Then,  accompanied  by  a  brass  band  and  a  large  array 
of  citizens,  the  veterans  marched  to  the  town  hall  where  another 
sumptuous  spread  awaited  them  and  they  were  again  welcomed, 
this  time  in  behalf  of  the  ladies  who  had  prepared  the  food. 
Dr.  C.  B.  King  was  the  speaker  and  T.  R.  Green,  Esq.,  re 
sponded  for  the  soldiers.  Following  the  feast  more  speeches 
were  made  by  the  Revs.  Blake  and  Fay  and  Mr.  F.  B.  Phelps. 

Greenfield  was  ready  to  receive  all  that  were  left  of  Com 
panies  G  and  H,  escorting  the  veterans  to  the  Mansion  House 
where  a  spread  was  awaiting  them,  the  members  of  Franklin 
Engine  Company,  doing  the  hospitable  act  for  their  returning 
friends;  but  Company  H  was  not  home  yet.  The  survivors, 
taking  team  conveyance,  were  carried  over  the  mountains  to 
Shelburne  Falls,  arriving  at  midnight.  Late  as  it  was  the 
"  boys  "  were  met  by  the  Fire  Company  and  the  band  and  with 
torch  lights  and  music  came  back  to  their  own,  the  entire 
village  population  being  awake  and  out  to  greet  them.  There 
were  hearty  hand  shakes  and  "Home  Again"  by  the  band, 
with  speeches  and  welcomes,  till  at  last  they  were  permitted 
to  retire  to  their  respective  homes. 

Similar  stories  might  be  told  of  every  considerable  village 
which  sent  men  into  the  Tenth  Regiment;  Great  Barrington, 


298  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Pittsfield,  Westfield,  Adams  and  North  Adams,  Spencer 
and  Holyoke  all  received  the  remnants  of  the  gallant 
men  who  three  years  before  had  left  them.  Through  all 
of  the  gladness,  however,  there  was  a  vein  of  sadness,  for  the 
home  coming  lacked  so  many  faces,  never  to  be  seen  on  earth 
again.  Perhaps  it  was  the  pitifully  small  array  of  Company  B 
which  returned  to  the  Adamses  that  prevented  the  providing 
of  the  thanksgiving  dinner,  promised  the  men  in  Adams  when 
they  were  entertained  there  before  starting  for  Springfield  in 
June,  1861,  (Vide  story  of  Company  B,  in  the  Roster)  for 
certainly  no  survivor  of  the  Company  has  any  recollection  of 
the  fulfillment  of  the  vow,  and  Adams  still  owes  him  one. 
One  personal  home  coming  is  worthy  of  narration  here. 
Charles  A.  Gates  of  Lee,  a  boy  of  nineteen,  wished  to  enlist, 
but  his  parents  were  unwilling,  so  one  spring  morning  he 
drove  the  cows  to  pasture  and  then  went  to  peeling  bark  from 
certain  fallen  trees  on  the  hillside.  But  he  was  lonesome  and 
could  not  get  the  idea  of  enlisting  out  of  his  head,  so  leaving 
the  bark  and  cows  he  proceeded  to  the  rendezvous  and  joined 
his  fellows.  He  served  his  term  without  a  furlough,  did  not 
receive  a  scratch  and,  when  the  jubilation  in  Springfield  was 
over,  he  took  the  cars  for  Becket,  crossed  over  the  hills  afoot 
to  Lee  and,  nearing  his  home  at  cow-time,  drove  up  the  herd 
with  gun  on  shoulder  and  knapsack  on  his  back  after  an 
absence  of  three  years. 

Friday,  July  1st,  agreeable  to  the  terms  of  their  furloughs, 
the  Field  and  Staff  with  Companies  E,  G,  H,  I  and  K  assem 
bled  in  Springfield  and,  on  Court  Square,  were  mustered-out 
of  the  United  States  service  by  Lieutenant  Arnold  of  the  18th 
Regulars.  Nearly  a  week  later,  or  Wednesday,  the  6th,  the 
remainder  of  the  Companies,  viz,  A,  B,  C,  D  and  F  appeared 
in  the  same  place  and  were  duly  mustered-out  by  the  same 
officer.  There  was  still  an  important  finality  to  be  observed, 
viz,  the  paying  off  of  officers  and  men,  an  agreeable  exercise 
observed  in  Springfield,  August  18th,  when  more  than  $42,000 
in  greenbacks  was  distributed  among  the  veterans,  accounts 
being  thus  squared  between  the  Government  and  the  Regi- 


GRAND  ARMY  POSTS  299 

ment,  save  in  the  case  of  some  officers  who  were  in  arrears 
for  clothing,  etc. 

The  last  scene  of  all  in  this  eventful  history  was  beheld  at 
the  State  House  in  Boston,  Friday,  Dec.  22,  1865,  (Fore 
fathers'  Day).  Under  the  direction  of  Gen.  Darius  N.  Couch, 
so  long  in  command  of  brigade,  division  and  corps,  veterans 
from  nearly  all  of  the  regiments  that  had  served  in  the  Rebel 
lion,  had  assembled  to  formally  return  the  colors  so  honorably 
borne  through  days  of  strife  and  death  to  the  perpetual  care 
and  keeping  of  the  Commonwealth.  The  day  is  memorable 
in  the  annals  of  Massachusetts  and,  many  years  later,  the 
scene  was  beautifully  depicted  in  lasting  colors  upon  the  walls 
of  the  Memorial  Hall,  that  Pantheon  of  the  Old  Bay  State. 
Lieut.  Col.  J.  B.  Parsons,  accompanied  by  ten  officers  and 
twenty  men,  formally  placed  in  the  custody  of  the  Common 
wealth  the  two  standards  presented  to  the  Regiment  by  the 
ladies  of  Springfield  and  which  were  exchanged  at  War- 
rent  on,  July  29th,  '63,  for  a  new  one  sent  down  by  Governor 
Andrew  (vide  p.  215). 

GRAND  ARMY  POSTS 

Names  of  members  of  the  Regiment  are  made  prominent 
in  the  appellations  of  Posts  of  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic 
thus: 

E.  K.  WILCOX  POST,  No.  16,  Springfield  preserves  the 
memory  of  the  first  Sergeant  Major  of  the  Tenth  who  later,  as 
Captain  in  the  27th,  was  killed  at  Cold  Harbor. 

OZRO  MILLER  POST,  No.  93,  Shelburne  Falls,  commemo 
rates  the  life  and  valor  of  the  local  hero  who  led  his  Company 
H  from  that  village  and  fell,  gallantly  fighting,  at  Malvern  Hill. 

EDWIN  E.  DAY  POST,  No.  174,  Greenfield,  recalls  the  brave 
commander  of  Company  G  who  fell  at  Fair  Oaks  where  the 
Regiment  received  its  first  baptism  of  blood. 


300 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


BRIGADIER   GENERAL   HENRY  SHAW  BRIGGS. 
First  Colonel  Tenth  Massachusetts  Infantry. 


JUNE  21,  1907  BRIGGS   MEMORIAL  301 

HENRY  SHAW  BRIGGS 

BIOGRAPHICAL  PORTION  OF  THE  ADDRESS  OF  THE  HON.  FRAN 
CIS  W.  ROCKWELL,  AT  THE  UNVEILING  OF  THE  MEMORIAL  TABLET 
OF  COL.  HENRY  S.  BRIGGS  AND  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  VOL 
UNTEER  INFANTRY,  AT  PITTSFIELD,  MASSACHUSETTS,  JUNE  21, 
1907.  THE  MEMORIAL,  DUE  LARGELY  TO  THE  LABORS  OF  JOHN 
H.  MANNING  OF  PITTSFIELD,  STANDS  IN  THE  CITY'S  PUBLIC  PARK. 

Born  at  Lanesborough,  eighty-three  years  ago  (Aug.  1, 
1824),  son  of  George  Nixon  Briggs,  for  seven  consecutive  years 
the  beloved  Governor  of  this  Commonwealth;  a  student  at 
Lenox  Academy;  a  graduate  of  Williams  College  (1844);  an 
original  member  in  1844  of  the  old  Housatonic  Engine  Com 
pany,  a  volunteer  organization  composed  of  Pittsfield's  leading 
citizens;  a  law  student  with  the  firm  of  Rockwell  and  Colt, 
and  at  the  Harvard  Law  School;  a  practitioner  at  Pittsfield 
after  his  admission  to  the  Bar;  serving  as  Captain  of  Company 
A,  First  Battalion  of  Infantry,  known  as  "The  Pittsfield 
Guard"  in  1855  (an  organization  formed  under  an  order  of 
July  30,  1853) ;  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Legislature 
in  1856;  Police  Justice  at  Pittsfield  in  1857;  holding  the  rank 
of  Major  in  the  First  Battalion  of  Infantry,  that  officer  being 
the  commander,  and  present  with  his  staff  at  the  review  on 
Boston  Common  (Oct.  18,  I860)  held  in  honor  of  the  Prince 
of  Wales;  ever  interested  as  a  citizen  in  all  that  pertained  to 
local  matters;  serving  on  the  school  committee  in  1859,  when 
his  report  discloses  a  marked  practical  interest  in  educational 
matters,  as  well  as  his  thoughtful  care  and  great  interest  for 
the  education  of  the  young — he  held  a  rare  position,  as  a 
young  man,  previous  to  the  Civil  War,  in  Pittsfield  and  in  the 
county. 

By  birth  of  a  leading  Berkshire  family,  by  inheritance  and 
training  a  man  of  intellectual  strength,  he  was  fitted  for  any 
position.  He  had  a  wide  knowledge  of  his  country's  history, 
an  ardent  love  for  the  Commonwealth.  By  inheritance, 
training  and  inclination  he  was  a  patriot. 

When  the  war  came  he  fully  understood  the  issues  involved, 
foresaw  the  strength,  dignity  and  position  the  country  would 
assume  among  the  nations  of  the  world,  if  the  Union  could 
be  preserved,  appreciated  the  great  good  to  follow  the  con 
tinued  preservation  of  the  United  States,  as  a  refuge  for  an 
oppressed  world,  as  a  field  for  the  development  of  the  highest 
type  of  liberty  known  to  men.  He  fully  grasped  the  issues 
involved  in  the  war  for  the  Union,  and  stood  ready,  when  the 


302  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

contest  arose,  to  defend  his  principles,  his  hearth-stone,  and 
his  country,  with  his  life.  Such  was  the  man  at  the  outbreak 
of  the  war. 

We  have  seen  how  he  made  ready  a  company  of  townsmen 
from  the  best  material,  whom  he  knew  and  upon  whom  he 
could  rely,  to  take  an  active  part  in  the  contest  his  judgment 
told  him  would  surely  arise.  We  have  seen  how  he  drilled 
and  prepared  them  the  year  before  they  were  actually  called 
into  service,  how  he  fitted  himself  to  be  their  captain,  and 
how  he  and  they  being  ready  he  seized  the  earliest  opportun 
ity  to  spring  to  the  defense  of  the  flag  he  and  they  loved. 

We  have  followed  him  as  with  industry  and  perseverance 
he  drilled  and  disciplined  the  Regiment  to  whose  leadership 
he  was  assigned,  inspiring  them  with  his  determination,  his 
dauntless  enthusiasm,  giving  them  of  his  best  intelligence, 
until  they  were  welded  into  a  splendid  organization.  In  al 
most  their  first  battle,  when  tested  under  a  terrific  fire,  in  a 
difficult  position,  although  broken  and  shattered,  they  rallied, 
reformed  and  renewed  the  contest. 

What  manner  of  man  was  this!  Of  what  force,  character 
and  inspiration! 

While  disabled  he  was  promoted  (July  2,  1862)  by  President 
Lincoln,  Brigadier  General  of  Volunteers  "for  gallant  conduct 
on  the  field."  Is  it  to  be  wondered  at  that  his  townsmen,  a 
few  days  after  his  promotion,  when  it  became  known  that 
he  might  be  present  at  a  war  meeting  at  the  town  house, 
crowded  the  building  so  that  the  gathering  was  held  under 
the  old  elm  in  the  open  park.  What  a  reception  he  had! 
Standing  with  difficulty,  because  of  his  wounds,  he  addressed 
the  audience,  everyone  of  whom  knew  him  personally!  It 
was  indeed  another  day  for  Pittsfield  when  the  Captain  of 
its  Allen  Guard,  the  Colonel  of  the  gallant  Tenth  that  had 
already  won  its  laurels,  the  promoted  Brigadier  General,  but 
recently  rescued  from  death  on  the  field,  still  enthusiastic 
for  future  service  for  his  country,  stood  before  them.  I  can 
see  him  now  standing  on  the  little  platform.  The  older 
citizens  of  Pittsfield  will  recall  the  just  pride  they  had  in  the 
man  himself,  and  the  tender  pathos  of  that  hour. 

As  soon  as  his  wounds  would  permit,  General  Briggs  re 
joined  the  army,  commanding  a  brigade  in  Humphrey's 
Division,  Fifth  Corps.  He  afterward  commanded  a  separate 
brigade  in  the  Eighth  Corps;  the  First  Division,  First  Corps; 
he  was  then  assigned  the  rendezvous  of  drafted  men  and 
volunteers  at  Alexandria,  and  from  July,  1864,  until  final 


JUNE  21,  1907  BRIGGS   MEMORIAL  303 

muster-out,  Dec.  6,  1865,  served  on  General  Court-Martial  at 
Washington,  thus  completing  four  and  a  half  years  of  faithful 
and  efficient  service. 

Before  his  discharge,  in  the  fall  of  1865,  he  was  elected  State 
Auditor  of  Massachusetts  and  re-elected  in  1866,  1867,  and 
1868.  On  the  establishment  of  the  District  Court  of  Central 
Berkshire,  in  1869,  the  first  court  of  that  character  in  the 
Commonwealth,  by  common  consent,  in  recognition  of  his 
legal  abilities  as  demonstrated  at  the  Bar,  his  reputation  for 
good  judgment  as  exhibited  in  the  trials  on  General  Court- 
Martial  at  Washington,  as  well  as  his  patriotic  services  and 
his  peculiar  knowledge  of  the  territory  within  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  court,  he  was  made  the  standing  justice.  Those  of  us 
who,  as  young  men,  practiced  before  him  love  to  recall  his 
clear  methods  in  reaching  his  decisions,  his  knowledge  of  the 
law,  his  fine  discrimination,  and  his  watchful  effort  to  do  justice. 

In  1871,  he  was  a  member  of  the  committee  on  the  erection 
of  the  soldiers'  monument.  Resigning  from  the  bench  in  1873, 
he  was  made  one  of  the  general  appraisers  of  the  government 
to  equalize  customs  appraisals,  a  board  to  whom  were  referred 
questions  arising  in  the  administration  of  those  delicate 
matters. 

How  that  day  comes  back,  twenty  years  ago,  when  General 
Briggs  appeared  in  public  for  the  last  time!  The  illness  which 
was  to  terminate  his  life  writhin  two  weeks  was  plainly  upon 
him,  but  his  love  for  the  soldiers  was  so  strong  and  great  that, 
even  in  the  storm,  he  attended  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary 
reunion  of  the  Thirty-Seventh  Regiment.  His  thoughts  were 
with  the  old  brigade,  the  Second  Rhode  Island,  the  Thirty- 
Sixth  New  York,  the  Seventh,  the  Tenth,  the  Thirty- 
Seventh  Massachusetts.  As  he  entered  the  banquet  hall  the 
veterans  rose  to  receive  him.  The  heartiness  of  the  cheers 
with  which  the  building  rang  attested  the  marked  respect 
in  which  they  held  him  and  the  regiment  he  represented.  He 
had  come  from  a  sick  bed  that  he  might  be  with  them. 

He  was  a  man  of  painstaking  industry,  studious  and  careful. 
He  had  sincerity,  a  delightful  courtesy.  Kind  and  considerate 
he  had  sympathy  coupled  with  strength.  As  a  youth,  in  that 
old-time  New  England  life  in  his  native  town  of  Lanesborough, 
he  was  the  delight  of  every  gathering.  Charming  in  his 
conversation,  a  man  of  winning  personality,  of  social  tempera 
ment,  high  spirited  and  chivalric,  he  was  a  general  favorite 
throughout  his  life — a  gentleman.  As  a  soldier,  of  splendid 
courage,  a  good  disciplinarian,  thoughtful  for  the  comfort  of 


JUNE  21,  1907  BRIGGS  MEMORIAL  303 

his  men.  He  was  looking  to  see  if  the  enemy  were  too  near 
when  he  received  his  serious  wounds  at  Fair  Oaks.  No  danger 
was  too  great  for  him  to  face  in  the  line  of  duty.  He  never 
forgot  a  favor.  His  letters,  written  to  his  family  during  the 
war,  disclose  a  tender  care  and  solicitude.  He  never  forgot 
the  reception  the  Regiment  gave  him,  on  his  return  to  Camp 
Brightwood,  after  attending  the  last  sad  rites  of  the  burial 
of  his  beloved  father.  He  died  September  2o,  1887. 

I  delight  to  give  this  gallant  soldier  this  tribute  here.  How 
the  memory  loves  to  go  back  full  fifty  years  and  recall  the 
visits  paid,  with  one's  parents,  to  the  large  old  house  under 
the  western  hill!  It  was  indeed  a  pleasure  to  meet  the  honored 
sire  who  graced  with  charming  simplicity,  yet  dignity,  the 
evening  hour,  the  mother  who  presided  over  that  delightful 
home,  the  sons,  well  informed  and  courteous,  the  daughter, 
whose  smile  of  welcome  still  lingers  in  the  memory.  All  are 
gone!  "These  rocks  and  hills  outlast  our  families." 

To  the  children  with  us  today  I  would  say:  Could  you 
have  heard  the  church  bells  ringing,  telling  of  defeat  or  victory, 
the  music  of  the  fife  and  drum,  the  people  as  they  sang  the 
old  war  songs,  the  parting  salute  fired  over  the  graves  of  the 
dead;  could  you  have  followed  with  your  heart  beats  the 
simple  music  of  the  olden  time,  you  too  might  have  known  the 
thoughts  that  surged  when  patriots  were  born  by  inspiration. 
Who  shall  estimate  the  soldiers'  willing  sacrifice  to  keep  for 
you  a  nation,  which  secures  your  liberties!  Let  the  love 
these  veterans  bore  their  country  never  be  forgotten.  As 
you  pass  the  soldiers'  monument  and  this  spot,  remember 
it  was  for  mankind,  your  country,  and  for  you. 

Men  of  the  Tenth!  We  delight  to  extend  to  each  of  you  per 
sonally  a  cordial  greeting,  to  remind  you  of  the  pride  we  take 
in  your  great  achievements,  to  express,  as  far  as  words  can, 
the  deep,  affectionate  regard  in  which  we  hold  you.  As  time 
goes  on  and  your  record,  won  on  many  a  hard-fought  field, 
often  against  overwhelming  odds,  is  the  more  closely  exam 
ined,  it  but  gains  new7  luster.  That  record  can  never  fade. 
While  memory  lasts,  we  who  followed,  in  those  terrible  months 
of  anxiety,  your  loyal  service,  can  never  forget  the  sacrifices 
you  made.  Your  service  was  for  the  whole  country  and  in  no 
way.  at  no  time,  can  ever  be  fully  repaid.  It  was  a  service 
voluntarily  entered  upon  as  American  freemen  to  save  and 
perpetuate  the  Republic. 

Men  of  the  Tenth!  The  record  of  your  regiment  wras  long 
since  made  up.  As  time  brings  you  nearer  the  end  the  recol- 


806  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

lection  of  deeds  well  done  will  always  cheer  you.  The  pleasant 
remembrance  of  the  comrades  gone  before  will  be  with  you. 
While  reason  and  life  remain  these  old  memories  will  be 
yours,  coupled  with  the  thought  that  in  your  day  and  time 
history  was  made  in  brief  periods  and  that  you  had  a  part 
in  the  making. 

Men  of  the  Tenth!  What  prouder  record  could  you  have? 
In  what  could  you  take  greater  delight?  You  were  of  the 
men  who  counted  life  as  naught  in  comparison  with  the 
blessings  that  would  follow  for  millions  yet  unborn.  The 
memory  of  your  deeds  will  guide  the  future  and  be  a  beacon 
light  for  liberty.  As  the  shadows  of  life's  evening  gather,  as 
one  by  one  the  old  comrades  answer  the  final  muster-out,  who 
will  be  the  last  to  pay  his  tribute  here?  That  great  host, 
gathered  and  to  gather  from  out  the  earth  of  those  who  make 
their  sacrifices  here,  are  lost  to  sight.  The  eye  of  faith  looks 
brightly  forward.  We  believe  that  deeds  done  for  the  progress 
of  the  race  are  not  forgotten,  are  forever  cherished!  The 
mysteries  of  birth,  of  life,  of  death  are  ever  with  us,  but 
within  us  is  the  deep  conviction  that  high  and  noble  actions 
are  jewels  prized  most  highly. 

On  this  forty-sixth  anniversary  of  their  muster-in  at 
Springfield,  the  remnant  of  the  Tenth,  a  regiment  that  took 
part  in  some  of  the  greatest  battles  of  the  Civil  War,  are 
assembled  to  honor  the  memory  of  their  Colonel.  What  are 
their  thoughts  as  they  recall  the  parting  words  of  Governor 
Briggs  as  they  went  forth  to  battle,  that  the  design  of  that 
great  contest  was  "to  restore"  their  southern  brethern  "to 
the  same  privileges  they  claimed  for  themselves," — the  words 
of  Colonel  Parsons,  as  he  spoke  of  his  lost  comrades,  "the 
sacrifice  is  indeed  great,  but  we  think  our  country  worthy 
of  it," — the  words  of  General  Grant,  after  the  contest,  "let 
us  have  peace," — the  words  of  the  immortal  Lincoln,  "with 
malice  toward  none,  with  charity  for  all."  What  are  their 
thoughts  as  they  reflect  on  their  reunited  country, — as  they 
stand  under  the  old  flag,  the  emblem  of  their  country's 
power, — as  they  recall  their  days,  months,  years  of  service, — 
the  camp  and  battle  scenes, — their  companions  in  arms! 

We  respect  and  honor  them,  and  leave  them  to  their  high 
thoughts  and  deep  emotions.  Their  lives  have  been  length 
ened  to  this  hour.  Never  again  will  they  all  assemble.  Their 
visit  and  their  mission  have  deeply  touched  our  hearts.  Long 
after  the  last  tribute  here  is  paid,  will  abide  the  tender  mem 
ory  of  the  deep  and  lasting  affection  they  cherished  for  their 
loved  commander! 


JUNE  21,  1906  PARSONS  EULOGY  307 

COL.  JOSEPH  B.  PARSONS 

DELIVERED  BY  MYRON  P.  WALKER,  COMPANY  C,  AT  THE 
REUNION  OF  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  REGIMENTAL  ASSO 
CIATION,  HELD  IN  SPRINGFIELD,  JUNE  21,  1906. 

Mr.  President,  Comrades  and  Friends: 

At  the  last  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  our 
Association,  a  request  was  made  that  I  prepare  for  our  reunion 
at  this  time  a  eulogy  upon  the  life  of  Colonel  Parsons.  I  said 
then  that  I  could  not  do  it,  and  I  say  now  that  I  shall  not 
even  attempt  it,  not  in  the  sense  generally  understood  by  the 
word.  As  well  ask  me  to  fix  in  their  proper  places  the  stars 
in  their  glory  as  to  ask  me  to  eulogize  a  particular  member 
of  the  Tenth  Regiment,  because  to  me  my  comrades,  from 
the  highest  officer  to  the  humblest  private,  in  so  far  as  they 
were  good  soldiers  and  did  their  duty,  were  stars  of  the  first 
magnitude,  and  those  who  have  gone  on  before  are  brightly 
shining  in  the  canopy  of  heaven. 

Synonyms  for  eulogy,  however,  are  good  words,  tribute  of 
praise,  and  there  I  find  myself  at  ease  and  rejoice  in  the  oppor 
tunity  to  speak  the  good  words  and  pay  my  humble  tribute 
of  praise  to  the  memory  of  him  I  loved  so  well. 

It  is  by  no  means  a  fairy  story,  though  in  fiction  you  will  find 
very  few  more  romantic.  It  was  his  story  and  many  a  time 
he  told  it  in  public  and  private  life — how  in  the  spring  of 
'61  a  lad  appeared  on  Hampden  Park  and  sought  to  fill  the 
vacancy  in  his  company  for  a  musician.  "What  can  you 
do?  You  could  not  take  a  twenty-eight  inch  step  to  save 
your  life,"  said  the  Captain,  "and,  besides,  your  parents  will 
not  let  you  go  to  war!"  "But,  I  can  drum,"  replied  the  lad, 
and  finally  he  was  told  to  come  the  next  day  and  so  he  did, 
bringing  his  mother  with  him.  Then  he  was  given  a  chance 
to  play  the  drum,  and  the  Captain  always  said  that  he  stepped 
off  at  least  thirty  inches,  so  that  with  his  parents'  consent 
the  lad  was  enlisted.  I  can  hear  that  mother's  voice  even 
now  as  she  said,  "We  give  him  into  your  charge,"  and  if  ever 
on  earth  a  man  was  good  and  kind  to  the  mother's  son  through 
years  of  trial  and  hardship,  it  was  he  whom  we  so  sadly 
miss  today. 

And  then  when  it  was  all  over  and  the  remnant  of  a  splendid 
regiment  came  home,  the  Captain,  now  Lieutenant  Colonel, 
filled  as  he  must  have  been  with  his  own  pride  and  in  the 
midst  of  a  scene  the  like  of  which  you  men  never  saw  before 
and  will  never  see  again,  did  not  forget  the  duty  and  trust  he 


308 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


LIEUT.  COL.  JOS.  B.  PARSONS. 
1901. 


JUNE  21,  1906  PARSONS   EULOGY  309 

had  accepted  three  long  years  before,  and  pushing  his  way  to 
the  now  fatherless  boy  who  was  for  the  first  moment  resting 
in  his  mother's  arms,  he  said  to  her,  "I  remember  your 
charge;  he  has  been  a  good  boy  and  we  have  brought  him 
safely  back  to  you." 

That  was  the  beginning  of  my  acquaintance  with  Colonel 
Parsons,  and  do  you  wonder  that  it  ripened  into  a  friendship 
true  as  the  needle  to  the  pole,  a  love  that  can  be  likened  only 
to  that  which  a  child  has  for  his  parents.  My  father  died 
during  the  war,  and  less  than  a  year  ago  my  mother  was  laid 
to  rest  in  the  village  churchyard,  and  only  a  few  days  ago 
dear  old  Colonel  Joe  went  to  see  them  in  the  great  world 
beyond,  but  today  I  feel  that  their  spirits  are  here  with  you 
and  me!  They  seem  to  be  beckoning  me  to  come  and  I  am 
almost  ready  to  go.  It  wron't  be  very  long  now,  and  whatever 
else  awaits  me  over  there,  I  know  the  welcome  I  shall  receive 
from  them. 

For  about  four  years  immediately  following  our  coming 
home  from  the  war  I  saw  quite  a  little  of  the  Colonel,  being 
frequently  a  guest  at  his  Northampton  home,  and  then  I 
drifted  to  California.  Seven  years  later  I  returned  for  the 
first  time  and,  coming  to  Springfield  to  see  my  people,  a 
brother  informed  me  that  Colonel  Parsons  was  in  camp  at 
Framingham.  Down  there  I  went  and,  passing  the  outer 
gate,  almost  the  first  object  to  attract  my  attention  was  a 
battalion  drill,  and  sure  enough  there  was  the  Colonel  doing 
the  same  old  act  and,  as  it  was  a  hot  day,  I'll  venture  to  say 
that  those  boys  were  getting  everything  that  belonged  to 
them.  The  regimental  headquarters  having  been  pointed  out 
to  me,  I  started  to  cross  the  field  when  a  guard  halted  and 
ordered  me  to  go  around  to  the  regular  entrance.  There  was 
no  mistaking  the  voice, — it  was  a  comrade  of  the  old  Tenth, 
and  you  may  be  sure  that  I  was  not  obliged  to  take  any 
extra  steps  in  reaching  the  Colonel's  tent,  where  I  found  Mrs. 
Parsons  and  other  old  friends.  Soon  the  Colonel  came  riding 
in  and — well,  you  can  guess  the  rest.  Then  more  years  of 
separation  until  I  came  back  again  to  the  home  of  my  boy 
hood.  Time  had  brought  outward  changes  to  both  of  us,  but 
had  not  changed  our  hearts.  We  did  not  have  to  renew  our 
love  for  each  other,  but  kept  right  on  doing  it  in  the  same 
old  way. 

In  1888  I  was  chosen  Commander  of  the  Department  of 
Massachusetts,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic,  and  my  second 
official  act  was  to  tender  the  Colonel  an  appointment  on  my 


310 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


staff.  It  was  accepted  and  very  soon  the  fun  began.  In  slang 
parlance,  I  did  not  do  a  thing  to  Colonel  Joe.  Can't  you  hear 
him  kicking  when  he  did  not  like  his  orders? — but  I  simply 
reminded  him  that  for  three  years  I  was  obliged  to  obey  him, 
and  assured  him  that  for  one  year  I  proposed  to  make  it  as 
pleasant  for  him  as  he  made  it  for  me.  I  really  think  he  en 
joyed  being  trimmed  occasionally  by  his  drummer-boy.  It 
was  during  this  year  that  he  obtained  the  appointment  of 
State  Pension  Agent,  which  gave  him  congenial  employment 
in  the  service  of  the  state  and  for  his  comrades  until  his  death. 
Many  incidents  I  might  relate  to  you — in  fact,  the  after 
noon  is  not  long  enough  to  tell  them  all,  and,  if  I  did,  it  would 
be  but  a  continuation  of  good  words  and  tribute  of  praise. 
What,  my  comrades,  would  be  the  use  of  eulogizing  Colonel 
Parsons  to  you  or  among  ourselves?  If  he  is  to  be  spoken  of 


MYRON  P.  WALKER. 


JUNE  21,    1906  PARSONS   EULOGY  311 

as  a  soldier  and  by  soldiers,  let  Gilmore,  Bigelow,  Pierce, 
Judd,  Hersey,  Warriner,  and  every  one  of  you,  officers  and 
privates,  rise  and  tell  what  you  think  about  him!  How  many 
times  from  this  platform  and  elsewhere  has  he  spoken  for  you. 
If  he  is  to  be  spoken  of  to  civilians,  is  there  anybody  in  Massa 
chusetts  who  has  not  heard  of  the  fighting  Tenth  and  always 
and  forever  connected  with  it  Colonel  Parsons?  Ask  the 
widows  and  orphans  of  thousands  of  soldiers,  who  helped  them 
in  their  need,  and  they  may  answer,  "Colonel  Parsons."  Ask 
men  and  women,  boys  and  girls,  all  over  Massachusetts  from 
the  hills  of  Berkshire  to  the  sands  of  the  Cape,  whom  they  most 
delighted  to  see  and  hear  when  he  so  eloquently  spoke  for 
our  country  and  its  flag,  and  many  of  them  will  answer, 
"Colonel  Parsons." 

Did  he  have  faults?  Of  course  he  did,  and  so  have  you 
and  I,  but  whom  did  you  first  ask  for  when  reunion  day  came, 
and  whom  did  you  miss  more  than  any  one  man  if  he  were  not 
present?  Colonel  Parsons.  Will  somebody  ask  me  about  his 
church  or  religion"  I  never  thought  to  ask  him,  but  I  do 
recall  more  than  once  at  our  reunions  and  on  many  other 
occasions  his  ringing,  confident  voice  appealing  to  "  Our  Father 
who  art  in  Heaven."  His  speech  and  manner  was  ever  those 
of  the  high-minded,  dignified,  and  chivalrous  gentleman,  and 
I  firmly  believe  that  to  so  live  as  he  lived,  one  need  not  fear 
to  lay  down  the  burdens  of  this  life  and  enter  into  the  great 
hereafter,  where 

"By  the  light  of  love's  white  throne, 
We  shall  see  at  last  as  we  are  seen, 
And  know  as  we  are  known." 

It  was  a  long  and  useful  life — seventy-eight  years — and 
I  am  told  that  it  ended  as  gently  as  the  setting  sun  sinks 
behind  the  western  hills.  I  wish  that  all  of  our  association 
could  have  been  present,  but  we  were  largely  represented, 
and  our  comrades  from  Baker  Post,  to  whom  we  should  be 
specially  grateful,  gave  a  soldier's  burial  to  our  old  Commander, 
up  there  in  the  beautiful  Meadow  City  which  had  always  been 
his  home  and  which  he  loved  so  well.  It  is  only  one  more 
mound  in  the  cemetery  where  rest  Wetherell,  Brewster, 
Braman,  Kingsley,  and  many  others  of  our  gallant  regiment! 
Just  one  more  little  flag  for  a  marker,  just  a  few  more  flowers 
when  the  springtime  comes  again.  He  would  not  have  us 
call  him  back!  He  would  not  have  us  sad  at  our  reunion 
today,  but,  if  he  could  speak,  it  would  be  a  word  of  good 


312  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

cheer,  urging  us  to  renew  our  comradeship  and  love  for  each 
other,  not  only  today,  but  at  all  subsequent  reunions,  until 
taps  shall  have  been  sounded  for  our  last  member.  Our  own 
days  are  swiftly  passing,  and  it  is  well  to  remember  that 

"Softly  the  shadows  are  creeping, 

Creeping  o'er  you  and  o'er  me. 
Soon,  having  passed  through  the  darkness, 

We  shall  awaken  to  see 
Morning,  in  full  splendor  glowing, 

Glowing  for  you  and  for  me." 

And  in  the  splendor  of  that  awakening  in  the  great  world 
beyond,  where  God  reigns,  and  Jesus  will  be  the  great  Captain 
of  us  all,  who  knows  but  when  the  silvery  bugle  shall  have 
sounded  the  reveille,  we  may  hear  the  voice  of  him  we  miss 
and  mourn  today  crying  once  again,  "Fall  in,  men  of  the 
Tenth." 

For  myself,  and  so  far  as  I  may  speak  for  you,  I  can  only 
say,  Peace  to  his  ashes,  Hail  and  Farewell. 

THE  OLD  BRIGADE 

Not  many  regiments  had  the  privilege  of  uninterrupted 
connection  with  the  same  brigade  organization  throughout 
their  entire  service,  yet  just  this  lot  was  the  pleasant  one 
of  the  Tenth  Regiment.  As  early  as  August  4,  '61,  we  find 
General  McClellan  organizing  "Colonel  Couch's  Brigade," 
consisting  of  the  Second  Rhode  Island,  Seventh  and  Tenth 
Massachusetts  and  the  36th  New  York.  Until,  one  after 
another,  those  regiments  fell  out  through  expiration  of  ser 
vice,  they  camped,  marched  and  fought  side  by  side.  In  the 
summer  of  1862  came  the  37th  Massachusetts  as  a  welcome 
addition  to  the  quartette  and,  when  all  others  had  gone  home, 
it  continued  to  bear  aloft  the  colors.  No  member  of  any  one 
of  those  regiments  was  ever  known  to  speak  ill  of  any  regiment 
in  the  brigade.  When  Couch  was  succeeded  by  Devens  and 
the  latter  by  Eustis,  the  same  spirit  of  brotherhood  continued 
and  Devens's  Brigade  always  had,  in  the  hearts  of  its  members, 
a  significance  unsurpassed,  if  equalled,  in  any  other  organ 
ization  of  its  kind  in  the  army.  The  last  time  representatives 
of  the  brigade  came  together  was  on  July  4th,  1906,  in  Worces- 


THE  OLD*  BRIGADE  313 

ter,  when  the  bronze  equestrian  statue  of  General  Devens 
was  unveiled.  The  appearance  of  the  veterans  of  Devens's 
old  brigade  was  quite  the  feature  of  the  occasion. 

THE  THIRTY-SIXTH  NEW  YORK 

The  regiment  was  known  as  a  New  York  City  organization, 
but  Company  A  was  from  Buffalo,  Company  B  from  Newburgh, 
Company  I  from  Brooklyn,  all  others  from  the  metropolis,  and 
it  was  one  of  the  many  regiments  that  Irish  Americans  gave 
to  the  country's  good.  Its  muster-in  extended  from  June  17th 
to  July  4th,  1861.  The  first  Colonel,  Charles  H.  Innis,  resigned 
July  6th,  '62  and  was  succeeded  by  Wm.  H.  Browne,  who 
continued  to  the  muster-out,  though  severely  wounded  at 
Marye's  Heights.  The  regiment  left  New  York  July  12th,  '61, 
and  soon  after  reaching  Washington  became  intimate  with 
the  Tenth  in  brigade  relations,  the  same  continuing  to  the 
very  end.  The  boys  of  the  36th  always  credited  the  Tenth 
with  saving  them  from  annihilation  at  Fair  Oaks  and,  there 
after,  nothing  on  their  part  was  too  good  for  the  lads  from 
Massachusetts.  This  feeling  found  expression  May  3d,  '63. 
Though  at  the  extreme  right  of  the  line  and,  thus,  not  in  the 
charge  itself,  the  Tenth  was  exposed  to  a  galling  fire  from  the 
enemy.  This  came  to  the  ears  of  the  36th,  lying  on  the  plain, 
awaiting  orders  to  charge  Marye's  Heights.  Hearing  of  the 
danger  to  which  their  friends  were  exposed,  forgetful  of  the 
far  greater  peril  into  which  they  were  soon  to  rush,  they 
shouted  to  their  commander,  "Paddy  Walsh,  the  Tinth  is 
in  trouble,  let's  go  and  help  thim!"  as  altruistic  a  sentiment 
as  ever  found  expression,  though  the  dear  boys  who  uttered 
it  would  not  know  the  meaning  of  the  word.  Their  Catholic 
services  were  utilized  at  times  by  communicants  of  that  faith 
in  our  Regiment  and  everywhere  they  were  the  best  of 
neighbors.  It  will  be  remembered  that  the  regiment  drew 
out  of  line  on  that  swift  march  to  Gettysburg,  though  they 
reached  New  York  in  time  to  lose  one  of  their  number  in  the 
sad  Draft  Riots  of  July  13th- 15th.  The  regiment  was  formally 
mustered-out  July  loth  under  the  command  of  Col.  Wm.  H. 


314  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Browne.  The  recruits  to  the  regiment  were  transferred  to  the 
65th  New  York  Volunteers,  to  serve  out  their  time.  Its  killed 
and  mortally  wounded  numbered  37,  while  one  man  died  in 
the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

THE  SEVENTH  MASSACHUSETTS 

Perhaps  no  body  of  men  ever  better  deserved  the  name 
of  the  "Old  Colony  Regiment "  than  that  one  which,  recruited 
and  organized  in  Taunton  under  the  direction  of  Darius  N. 
Couch,  received  the  numeric  label  of  "Seventh"  and  later 
became  an  intimate  associate  of  the  Tenth  in  their  Virginian 
rambles.  Possibly,  also,  no  other  regiment  had  so  many 
Colonels  promoted  to  the  rank  of  Brigadier  and  Major  General. 
However,  as  these  four  officers,  Couch,  N.  H.  Davis,  D.  A. 
Russell  and  Thos.  D.  Johns,  were  all  West  Pointers  the  pro 
motions  may  not  seem  so  strange.  Only  one  of  the  regimental 
colonels,  Joseph  Wheelock,  and  he  was  from  the  same  military 
school,  failed  to  win  a  star  for  his  shoulder.  Then  there  was 
that  magnificent  man  who  reached  no  higher  rank  than  Lieu 
tenant  Colonel,  Franklin  P.  Harlow,  who  led  the  regiment 
in  so  many  dire  straits,  who  never  faltered,  no  matter  what 
the  emergency ;  there  was  not  a  man  in  the  ranks  who  did  not 
deem  him  worthy  of  the  same  elevation  that  had  come  to  the 
other  leaders  of  the  regiment.  No  organization,  outside  of 
the  Tenth  itself,  is  more  often  mentioned  within  these  pages 
and  of  no  body  did  the  men  of  Western  Massachusetts  enter 
tain  a  higher  opinion.  Where  one  regiment  went,  there  also 
went  the  other ;  in  this  respect  Ruth  and  Naomi  were  not  more 
closely  bound.  It  drew  out  of  the  ranks  just  a  few  days  before 
the  Tenth  did  the  same,  viz,  June  15th,  and  proceeding  to 
Massachusetts,  was  mustered-out  July  5th  in  Taunton.  In 
1890,  a  history  of  the  regiment  by  Nelson  V.  Hutchinson  was 
published  in  Taunton  by  the  Regimental  Association.  Bound 
in  blue,  bearing  on  its  side  the  Greek  Cross  of  the  Sixth  Army 
Corps,  its  320  pages  teem  with  interesting  matter,  which  has 
been  drawn  upon  whenever  desirable  in  the  preparation  of  this 
volume.  As  in  the  case  of  the  Tenth,  all  holdover  men  were 


THE  OLD  BRIGADE  315 

transferred  to  the  ranks  of  the  o7th,  to  there  serve  out  their 
enlistments.  It  lost  74  men,  killed  and  mortally  wounded, 
and  six  men  died  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 

THE  SECOXD   RHODE   ISLAND 

In  the  Rebellion  annals  of  Rhode  Island,  only  the  First, 
the  regiment  of  Gen.  Ambrose  E.  Burnside,  preceded  our 
friends  of  the  Second  in  their  departure  for  the  South.  They 
were  mustered-in,  June  5th  and  6th,  with  John  S.  Slocum  as 
Colonel  thus  being  the  second  regiment  to  be  received  for 
three  years  from  New  England,  its  senior  being  the  First 
Massachusetts.  Leaving  Providence,  June  19th,  it  reached 
Washington  on  the  22d.  Arriving  thus  early,  the  regiment  was 
in  time  for  Bull  Run  where  twenty-four  men,  including  Colonel 
Slocum,  were  killed  or  mortally  wounded.  Of  its  life  in 
Brightwood,  it  is  unnecessary  to  speak  here  save  to  state  that 
their  fort,  or  the  one  constructed  by  them,  received  the  name 
of  their  gallant  Colonel  and  was  known  throughout  the  war 
as  Fort  Slocum.  Col.  John  S.  Slocum  won  a  commission  in 
the  Mexican  War,  and  while  his  career  in  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion  was  brief,  it  certainly  was  brilliant.  Slocum  Post 
of  Providence  has  kept  the  Colonel's  memory  green  in  Grand 
Army  circles.  The  second  Colonel,  Frank  Wheaton,  we  remem 
ber  in  all  the  grades  from  Lieutenant  Colonel  to  Brevet  Major 
General,  commanding  the  First  Division  after  the  death  of 
D.  A.  Russell.  Subsequent  to  the  war,  he  continued  in  the 
army.  Nelson  Viall,  the  third  commander  of  the  Second,  was 
Rhode  Island  born  and  had  served  through  the  Mexican  War. 
The  impression  he  made  upon  the  Tenth  during  the  period  of 
his  commanding  the  same,  is  realized  when  it  is  known  that 
many  officers  of  the  Regiment  would  have  been  glad  to  have 
him  succeed  Colonel  Briggs.  His  service  terminated  with 
the  rank  of  Brevet  Brigadier  General.  Horatio  Rogers, 
Jr.,  who  succeeded  Colonel  Viall,  was  a  graduate  of  Brown 
University ;  he  was  transferred  from  the  Lieutenant  Colonelcy 
of  the  Eleventh  Rhode  Island  to  the  command  of  the  Second. 
In  everv  wav  a  most  admirable  officer,  he  too  won  his  Brevet 


316  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

rank  as  Brigadier  General.  Lastly  came  Samuel  B.  M.  Read, 
succeeding  to  the  command  just  before  the  departure  of  the 
Tenth,  and  he«came  home  with  the  regiment.  Of  the  re-organ 
ized  Second  which  served  through  to  Appomattox,  Elisha  H. 
Rhodes  was  the  efficient  Colonel  and  he  too  won  the  Brevet 
rank  of  Brigadier  General.  The  story  of  the  regiment,  as  told 
by  the  Rev.  Augustus  Woodbury,  is  a  noteworthy  volume 
of  633  pages,  published  in  1875,  an  excellent  record  of  a  most 
excellent  organization.  The  Second  is  found  among  the  three 
hundred  "fighting  regiments"  as  accounted  by  Fox.  Its 
list  of  killed  and  mortally  wounded  numbers  120,  while 
twelve  men  died  in  Confederate  prisons. 

THE  THIRTY-SEVENTH  MASSACHUSETTS 

Somehow,  the  boys  of  the  Tenth  could  never  get  over  the 
feeling  that  the  new  regiment,  which  came  down  to  the  Brigade 
in  the  late  summer  of  1862,  was  a  sort  of  younger  brother. 
Coming  from  the  same  locality,  its  members  intimate  acquaint 
ances,  if  not  relatives,  of  the  rank  and  file  of  the  Tenth;  its 
Colonel,  Oliver  Edwards,  the  highly  prized  Adjutant  of  the 
earlier  organization,  what  wonder  that  the  older  soldiers 
were  more  than  pleased  when  the  younger  volunteers  were 
attached  to  the  Brigade!  Of  the  meeting  of  the  regiments  in 
the  field,  the  historian  of  the  37th  has  this  to  say  (p.  80): 

Presently  from  the  head  of  the  column  a  strong,  hearty 
cheer  rang  out,  and  traveled  quickly  from  company  to  com 
pany,  taken  up  by  many  who  only  guessed  the  cause.  "It's 
the  Tenth  Regiment!"  rang  out  from  file  to  file,  and  the  cheers 
were  redoubled.  The  marching  column  halted  and  the  two 
commands  mingled.  They  were  brothers,  school  mates, 
friends.  The  hills  of  Berkshire  and  the  valley  of  the  Connecti 
cut  were  the  homes  of  each.  The  older  regiment  had  given 
some  of  its  best  material  toward  the  formation  of  the  new. 
Their  fortunes  were  henceforth  to  be  identified,  their  banners 
to  go  side  by  side  into  the  supreme  test  of  battle.  Yet  there 
was  a  marked  contrast  in  the  two  bodies  as  they  thus  came 
into  association.  Exposure,  disease,  the  march  and  battle 
had  wasted  the  Tenth  to  a  remnant  of  its  original  self;  its 
banners  and  clothing  gave  unmistakable  testimony  to  the 


THE  OLD  BRIGADE  317 

arduous  service  through  which  it  had  passed.  The  37th,  on 
the  other  hand,  had  full  ranks,  bright  banners,  fresh  uniforms; 
but  the  hearts  which  beat  along  the  different  lines  were  filled 
with  the  same  love  of  country,  the  same  consecration  to 
principle,  the  same  devotion  to  "the  old  flag"  as  the  emblem 
of  National  unity. 

Of  the  efficient  services  of  the  regiment,  wherever  placed, 
there  is  no  need  to  write  here;  incidentally  they  appear  on 
many  of  the  preceding  pages.  That  the  regiment  became  the 
residuary  legatee  of  the  two  Massachusetts  regiments,  which 
returned  to  their  homes  in  June,  '64,  has  already  been  told. 
After  we  left  the  ranks  of  the  Brigade,  the  regiment  saw  the 
remainder  of  the  fierce  campaign  of  Grant,  was  with  Sheridan 
in  the  Valley,  fought  the  winter  through  in  front  of  Peters 
burg,  followed  the  retreating  Confederates  to  Appomattox, 
pausing  to  fight  the  battle  of  Sailor's  Creek  on  the  way,  and 
then  came  home  at  last  in  the  midsummer  of  '65.  Col.  Oliver 
Edwards  commanded  the  Brigade  later,  and  finally  became 
a  full  Brigadier  General.  Rufus  P.  Lincoln  commanded  the 
regiment  as  Lieutenant  Colonel  and  Mason  W.  Tyler  succeeded, 
though  his  real  rank  was  that  of  Major  at  muster-out.  Lieut. 
Col.  George  L.  Montague  won  a  high  place  in  the  hearts  of 
his  men,  all  of  whom  regretted  his  enforced  resignation  on 
account  of  wounds.  It  was  mustered-out  of  the  United  States 
service  July  21,  1865.  Few  regiments  have  been  more  fortu 
nate  in  the  character  of  their  history.  In  1884,  James  L. 
Bowen,  a  member  of  the  regiment,  put  forth  a  recital  of  the 
career  of  the  organization  that  is  a  monument  of  careful 
research  and  admirable  compilation.  With  this  in  his  pos 
session,  every  survivor  of  the  37th  may  feel  that  his  record 
is  secure.  One  of  the  immortal  three  hundred  as  classified 
by  Fox,  it  lost  in  killed  and  mortally  wounded,  169  men, 
besides  twelve  who  died  in  Confederate  prisons. 

BRIGADE  DIVISION  AND  CORPS 
RELATIONS 

BRIGADE:  Aug.  4,  '61,  it  was  known  as  Couch's  Brigade, 
Division  of  the  Potomac;  Oct.  15,  '61,  it  was  Couch's  Brigade, 


c  -3 

s  >2 

CG  Q 

•^  -C 

-  Sf 

?  '? 


DEPARTMENT  COMMANDERS  319 

Buell's  Division,  Army  of  the  Potomac;  from  March  13,  '62, 
Third  Brigade,  First  Division,  Fourth  Corps;  from  June,  '62, 
First  Brigade,  First  Division,  Fourth  Corps;  from  Sept.,  '62, 
First  Brigade,  Third  Division,  Sixth  Corps;  from  Dec.,  '62, 
Second  Brigade,  Third  Division,  Sixth  Corps;  from  May  4, 
'64,  Fourth  Brigade,  Second  Division,  Sixth  Corps.  Successive 
Brigade  Commanders  were  D.  N.  Couch,  H.  S.  Briggs,  Charles 
Devens,  I.  N.  Palmer  (temporary),  Wm.  H.  Browne,  H.  L. 
Eustis  and  Oliver  Edwards. 

DIVISION:  Don  Carlos  Buell,  subsequently  to  win  fame 
in  the  West,  was  the  first  Division  Commander  to  whom  the 
Tenth  Regiment  deferred  and  he  was  followed  by  E.  D.  Keyes; 
as  a  division  in  the  Fourth  Corps,  D.  N.  Couch  became  com 
mander  ;  when  the  latter  went  to  the  command  of  the  Second 
Corps  he  was  followed  as  head  of  the  Third  Division,  Sixth 
Corps,  by  John  Newton;  the  latter  was  followed  by  Joseph 
J.  Bartlett  and  Henry  D.  Terry;  as  one  of  the  Fourth  Brigade, 
Second  Division,  the  commanders  wrere  A.  P.  Howe,  D.  A. 
Russell  (temporary),  later  Geo.  W.  Getty  with  whom  the 
Regiment  remained  until  its  muster-out. 

CORPS:  The  Tenth's  First  Corps  Commander  was  Erasmus 
D.  Keyes,  whose  command  was  later  known  as  the  Fourth 
Corps,  and  thus  the  situation  was  until  the  Division  of  General 
Couch  was  added  to  the  Sixth  Corps,  Sept.,  '62 ;  W.  F.  ("Baldy") 
Smith  in  command  of  the  Corps;  on  the  transferral  of  the 
latter  to  North  Carolina,  "Uncle"  John  Sedgwick  succeeded, 
to  be  followed  at  his  death  by  H.  G.  Wright  who  held  the 
position  to  the  end. 

DEPARTMENT  COMMANDERS 

No  regiment  from  the  Bay  State  has  furnished  so  many 
commanders  for  the  Massachusetts  Department,  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic  as  the  Tenth.  They  are  as  follows: 

John  W.  Hersey  (H),  1885;  he  was  Senior  Vice  Commander 
the  preceding  year. 

Myron  P.  Walker  (C),  1888. 

Dwight  O.  Judd  (I),  1903;  had  been  Senior  and  Junior  Vice 
Commander  in  preceding  years. 


320  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Commanders  have  also  been  found  from  the  Tenth  for  other 
departments  thus : 

Wm.  H.  Brown  (B),  1896,  Department,  North  Dakota. 
Clement  F.  Drake  (H),  1904,  Department,  Idaho. 

GETTYSBURG  MONUMENT 

The  best  marked  battle  field  in  the  world  is  that  of  Gettys 
burg.  Centuries  hence,  the  student,  guide  book  in  hand,  will 
trace  out  the  positions  occupied  by  the  contending  armies 
during  those  three  days  when  the  fate  of  humanity  was  at 
stake.  Happily  the  Commonwealth  of  Massachusetts  has 
taken  care  that  the  deeds  of  her  sons  in  that  fiery  trial  shall 
not  be  overlooked.  In  the  Legislative  session  of  1883,  largely 
through  the  influence  of  Col.  John  B.  Bachelder,  the  sum  of 
$5,000  was  appropriated  for  the  purchase  of  additional 
grounds  of  special  interest  on  the  Gettysburg  field,  for  acquir 
ing  right  of  way  and  for  preserving  and  beautifying  said 
battle  field.  The  resolve  was  approved  May  29,  1883,  and  in 
the  August  following,  a  meeting  was  called  of  representatives 
of  the  various  Massachusetts  organizations  engaged  in  the 
battle.  Colonel  Bachelder  was  present  and  explained  the 
design 'and  intentions  of  the  resolve  and,  for  the  purpose  of 
identifying  and  indicating  the  several  positions  held  by  these 
commands,  a  committee  was  appointed. 

Said  committee  promoted  an  excursion  which,  one  hundred 
and  thirty-three  strong,  left  the  State  on  the  evening  of 
October  23d,  and  reached  Gettysburg  the  following  night, 
giving  the  25th  and  the  26th  to  a  careful  study  of  the  places 
connected  with  the  stories  of  the  several  regiments.  Eustis's 
Brigade  was  represented  by  Col.  F.  T.  Harlow,  Capt.  Zeba 
F.  Bliss  and  W.  T.  Wilde  of  the  Seventh;  Joel  H.  Hendrick 
and  S.  K.  Hindley  of  the  Tenth;  James  L.  Bowen,  S.  F.  Wood, 
Cyrus  W.  Cross,  D.  M.  Chapman  and  Wm.  F.  Abbott  of  the 
37th.  Having  a  common  interest,  these  men  decided  upon  a 
position  near  Little  Round  Top,  where  they  lay  during  the  night, 
as  that  of  the  Brigade  on  the  second  day;  that  for  the  third 
day,  on  the  Taneytown  road,  where  in  passing  from  the  center 


GETTYSBURG  MONUMENT 


321 


GETTYSBURG  MONUMENT. 


322  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

to  the  left,  the  Brigade  encountered  a  severe  artillery  fire 
which,  in  a  few  moments,  killed  and  wounded  over  thirty  men 
of  the  37th.  Later  through  the  efforts  of  Colonel  Bachelder 
the  Brigade  was  granted  permission  to  move  its  tablets  for 
ward  for  the  second  day  to  Battle  field  Avenue,  directly  in 
front  of  where  the  regiments  lay  in  line  of  battle. 

The  Legislature  of  1884,  March  25,  voted  to  each  organiza 
tion  from  the  State  the  sum  of  $500.00  towards  erecting  a 
monument  upon  the  field.  On  the  suggestion  of  Colonel 
Bachelder,  it  was  decided  that  the  memorials  of  the  Brigade 
should  stand  on  the  line  of  the  third  day's  position  as  the 
more  important  historically.  Later  the  monument  of  the 
Second  Rhode  Island,  forming  the  left  of  the  Brigade  has 
been  added,  thus  completing  the  line,  though  between  it  and 
the  memorial  of  the  Seventh  Massachusetts  stands  the  monu 
ment  of  the  First  Massachusetts  Cavalry. 

At  the  reunion  of  the  Tenth  Regiment,  held  in  Northamp 
ton,  June  21,  1884,  H.  M.  Converse  (I),  J.  H.  Hendrick  (F), 
and  S.  K.  Hindley  (H)  were  appointed  a  committee  to  select  a 
design  for  a  monument  and  to  arrange  for  construction  and 
erection  on  the  proper  site.  With  a  local  pride  at  once  proper 
and  commendable  the  design  presented  by  Capt.  J.  K.  Newell 
(I)  was  adopted  and  its  execution  was  intrusted  to  Artist  M.  H. 
Mosman  (Co.  D,  46th  Mass.)  of  Chicopee.  The  result  is  one  of 
the  most  artistic  on  the  field;  its  square  granite  pedestal,  six 
feet,  six  inches  in  height,  bears  on  its  finely  polished  panels,  the 
inscription,  "10th  Massachusetts;  2d  Brigade,  3d  Division, 
6th  Corps,  July  2d,  1863."  Surmounting  the  granite  is  a  fine 
bronze  design,  representing  a  stack  of  muskets  with  fixed 
bayonets.  Resting  on  the  stone  and  rising  in  a  pyramid 
within  the  stack,  are  a  drum,  knapsack,  cartridge-box  and 
canteen,  the  two  latter  pendent  from  the  guns.  The  total 
height  to  the  points  of  the  bayonets  is  thirteen  feet  and  six 
inches.  The  entire  cost  of  the  memorial,  including  the  turf 
ing  of  the  ground,  was  $1002.25.  The  granite  was  furnished 
by  the  Chester  Granite  Company  (Western  Massachusetts) 
by  whom  it  was  dressed  and  finished.  The  monument  was 
placed  in  position  early  in  October,  1885. 


GETTYSBURG  MONUMENT  323 

The  joint  committees  of  the  Tenth  and  Thirty-Seventh 
Regiments  arranged  for  an  excursion  to  the  battle  field,  the 
first  full  week  in  October  and  all  necessary  preparation  was 
left  in  the  hands  of  James  L.  Bowen,  Historian  of  the  37th 
Regiment  and  President  of  its  Veteran  Association.  To  him 
also  was  assigned  the  task  of  preparing  the  oration  for  the 
dedication.  Both  the  7th  Mass,  and  the  2d.  R.  I.  were  invited 
to  accompany  the  party;  the  former  accepted  but  the  latter 
had  already  arranged  to  go  with  a  party  from  its  own  state. 
As  an  indispensable  accompaniment,  Colonel  Bachelder  was 
secured  as  general  guide  and  informant.  The  excursion  left 
Springfield,  Monday,  Oct.  4,  at  7.50  p.  m.,  going  thence  to 
New  Haven  and  from  that  point  by  boat  to  New  York. 
Through  New  Jersey,  Philadelphia  and  Harrisburg  the  party 
reached  Gettysburg  at  6  p.  m.  of  the  5th.  Better  weather  for 
the  purpose  could  not  be  asked  and  Wednesday  was  devoted 
to  explorations  of  the  field,  followed  at  night  by  the  joint 
dedicatory  exercises  of  the  Brigade  and  of  the  139th  Penn. 
in  the  skating  rink. 

Massachusetts  came  first,  Capt.  J.  A.  Loomis  of  the  37th 
presiding.  Prayer  was  offered  by  Chaplin  George  F.  Smith, 
Post  86,  G.  A  R.,  Northampton,  followed  by  music,  after  which 
Comrade  Bowen  delivered  the  dedicatory  address,  a  most 
timely,  instructive  and  eloquent  effort,  securing  and  holding 
the  rapt  attention  of  all  listeners.  Next  the  monuments  were 
formally  presented  to  the  Gettysburg  Battle  Field  Monument 
Association  with  appropriate  remarks  by  representatives  of 
the  several  regiments.  President  Church  spoke  for  the 
Seventh,  while  Treasurers  H.  M.  Abbott  of  the  Thirty-seventh 
and  J.  H.  Hendrick  of  the  Tenth  did  the  same  for  their  re 
spective  committees.  Comrade  Hendrick  concluded  his  re 
marks  with  these  words,  "The  men  representative  of  a 
regimental  committee  cannot  adequately  charge  your  Associa 
tion  with  this  duty,  nor  can  these  citizens  of  our  state  who 
unite  with  us  in  these  ceremonies ;  neither  can  these  comrades 
who  here  wore  the  blue  twenty-five  years  ago.  But  with 
whatever  of  authoritv  there  mav  be  in  unanimitv  of  sen- 


324  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

timent,  Massachusetts  herself  bids,  Take  care  of  yonder 
sacred  trophies.  See  that  no  enemies,  less  invincible  than  time 
and  the  elements,  destroy  a  memorial  which  marks  the  place 
where  my  sons  stood  in  defense  of  the  Union.'"  The  Hon. 
David  A.  Buechler,  vice-president  of  the  Association  re 
ceived  the  trusts  in  fitting  terms,  paying  a  glowing  tribute  to 
the  patriotism  of  the  Old  Bay  State. 

Thursday  was  devoted  to  still  further  sight-seeing  and 
descriptions,  ending  with  an  evening  at  the  Court  House 
with  Comrade  Bowen  in  the  chair,  with  appropriate  and 
eloquent  speeches  from  Gen.  H.  S.  Briggs,  Colonel  J.  B.  Parsons 
and  Messrs.  Bachelder  and  Buechler.  The  party  comprised 
from  the  Tenth,  General  H.  S.  Briggs,  the  first  Colonel  of  the 
Regiment,  Colonel  J.  B.  Parsons,  the  last,  and  Adjutant 
C.  H.  Brewster  with  A.  F.  Fargo,  Geo.  H.  Holmes  and  Kerran 
Ryan  all  of  "A;"  S.  F.  Kimball,  "B;"  J.  P.  Coburn/'G;" 
N.  S.  Cornwell,  I.  H.  Howard,  C.  B.  Kingsley,  Alvin  Rust 
and S.S.  Williams,  "C;"  Jesse  Prickett,  "E;"  J.  H.  Hendrick, 
"F,"  of  the  Committee;  W.  H.  Adams,  J.  F.  Bartlett,  M.  H. 
Vincent,  "H;"  Wm.  H.  Loomis,  Cornelius  Sackett,  Adam 
Swan,  "K." 

LINCOLN'S  ADDRESS  AT  GETTYSBURG 

As  this  story  of  the  Tenth  Regiment  is  published  in  the 
centennial  year  of  the  President's  birth,  it  is  deemed  appro 
priate  that  his  famous  address  at  the  dedication  of  the  Ceme 
tery,  November  19,  1863,  should  be  printed  in  this  connection. 
Two  members  of  the  regiment,  John  E.  At  wood  of  "B"  and 
and  W.  W.  Mason  of  "K"  helped  form  the  color  guard  of  the 
Massachusetts  delegation  on  that  occasion.  Possibly  no  other 
equal  number  of  words  ever  spoken  in  the  English  language, 
have  attained  such  universal  praise  and  fame.  Uttered  after 
those  of  that  master  of  rhetoric  and  oratory,  Edward  Everett 
of  Massachusetts,  their  full  majesty  did  not  occur  to  those 
who  listened  nor  to  those  who  read  but  in  the  light  of  later 
years  they  have  acquired  a  popular  appreciation  never  ex 
celled.  The  words  of  the  address,  as  printed  in  various  places,. 


VETERAN  ORGANIZATION  325 

differ;  the  text  reproduced  here  is  that  of  the  cards,  framed 
and  placed  in  many  National  Cemeteries  by  the  Government, 
hence  probably  the  most  nearly  accurate : 

Fourscore  and  seven  years  ago  our  fathers  brought  forth 
upon  this  continent  a  new  nation,  conceived  in  Liberty,  and 
dedicated  to  the  proposition  that  all  men  are  created  equal. 

Now  we  are  engaged  in  a  great  civil  war,  testing  whether 
that  nation,  or  any  nation,  so  conceived  and  so  dedicated, 
can  long  endure.  We  are  met  on  a  great  battle  field  of  that 
war.  We  are  met  to  dedicate  a  portion  of  it  as  the  final 
resting  place  of  those  who  here  gave  their  lives  that  that 
nation  might  live.  It  is  altogether  fitting  and  proper  that  we 
should  do  this. 

But  in  a  larger  sense  we  cannot  dedicate,  we  cannot  con 
secrate,  we  cannot  hallow  this  ground.  The  brave  men, 
living  and  dead,  who  struggled  here  have  consecrated  it  far 
above  our  power  to  add  or  detract.  The  world  will  little  note 
nor  long  remember  what  we  say  here,  but  it  can  never  forget 
what  they  did  here.  It  is  for  us,  the  living,  rather  to  be  dedi 
cated  here  to  the  unfinished  work  that  they  have  thus  far 
so  nobly  carried  on.  It  is  rather  for  us  to  be  here  dedicated 
to  the  great  task  remaining  before  us — that  from  these  honored 
dead  we  take  increased  devotion  to  the  cause  for  which  they 
here  gave  the  last  full  measure  of  devotion — that  we  here 
highly  resolve  that  the  dead  shall  not  have  died  in  vain ;  that 
the  nation  shall,  under  God,  have  a  new  birth  of  freedom, 
and  that  the  government  of  the  people,  by  the  people,  and  for 
the  people,  shall  not  perish  from  the  earth. 

VETERAN  ORGANIZATION 

That  an  organization  of  the  veterans  of  the  Tenth  would  soon 
follow  the  close  of  the  war  was  inevitable.  It  began  in  North 
ampton,  July  1st,  1868.  First  Sergt.  Henry  M.  Converse 
Company  I,  writes,  "A  meeting  was  held  in  Agricultural 
Hall,  Pleasant  Street,  and  an  Association  was  formed  with 
General  Henry  S.  Briggs,  the  first  Colonel,  as  President.'' 
Annual  meetings  have  been  held  since,  enlivening  thus,  at 
twelve  months'  intervals,  and  in  different  years,  most  of  the 
considerable  towns  and  cities  in  the  western  portions  of  the 
Commonwealth.  Though  organized  in  July,  it  was  early 


g    fc 
I   o 

^     fc 

i    § 

CJ     « 

J 

<»J 


«  a 


VETERAN  ORGANIZATION  327 

thought  that  the  best  day  for  the  reunions  was  that  on  which 
the  Regiment  was  mustered-in,  hence,  in  the  forty  interven 
ing  years,  the  21st  of  June  has  been  the  assembling  day,  except 
when  the  same  fell  on  Sunday. 

Many  different  officers  and  enlisted  men  have  served  as 
President  and  Secretary,  indeed,  some  have  at  different  times 
filled  both  positions.  To  the  smaller  places,  the  coming  of 
the  veterans  has  meant  much  and  the  way  in  which  supplies 
for  the  occasion  were  sent  in  and  the  generous  manner  of  their 
distribution  amply  attested  the  appreciation  of  the  people 
and  their  memory  of  the  trying  days  of  old.  Circumstances 
have  contributed  to  varying  interest  and  attendance  at  these 
gatherings;  some  points  have  been  much  more  easily  reached 
than  others  and  certain  special  features  in  some  places  may 
have  drawn  out  an  extra  large  number. 

Possibly  no  one  reunion  exceeded  in  general  applause  that 
one  held  in  Belchertown,  June  21,  1881.  Former  Drummer- 
boy  Myron  P.  Walker,  "C,"  having  the  means,  had  prepared 
a  feast  for  his  old  friends,  along  with  a  host  of  new  ones.  Of 
course  fellow  citizens  contributed  of  funds  and  time  to  the 
entertainment,  but  the  great  bulk  of  the  outlay  was  given  by 
Comrade  Walker.  A  special  train  of  eight  cars  brought  veterans 
and  invited  guests  from  Springfield  while  a  drawing-room 
car  was  furnished  from  Boston,  bearing  Governor  John  D. 
Long,  with  a  large  part  of  the  state  government,  both  executive, 
judicial  and  legislative.  Never  did  the  old  town,  always 
conspicuous  for  lavish  hospitality,  shine  forth  as  it  did  this 
day.  About  700  people  gathered  at  the  table,  literally  heaped 
high  wTith  the  best  that  generous  men  and  women  could  pro 
vide.  The  post-prandial  exercises  were  of  an  unusual  character 
also,  for  not  even'  feast  is  graced  by  the  presence  of  the 
Governor  of  the  Commonwealth,  and  John  D.  Long,  always 
eloquent,  was  never  more  so  than  when  he  descanted  on  the 
glories  of  Belchertown  and  the  merit  of  the  youthful  soldier 
who,  as  a  drummer,  had  reflected  so  much  credit  on  both  town 
and  state.  The  town  had  been  the  headquarters  of  old  Com 
pany  D  of  the  Militia  Tenth  Regiment  and,  naturally,  was 


328  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

anxious  to  have  the  same  added  to  its  fellow  companies  in 
the  new  volunteer  Tenth,  but  the  proffer  was  too  late  and  the 
men  were  obliged  to  enlist  in  the  other  organizations  of  the 
regiment  though  many  of  them,  including  their  Drummer-boy, 
Walker,  went  into  Company  C  of  Northampton.  The  lad 
had  taken  to  his  drum  as  the  average  lass  does  to  the  piano 
and  was  actually  a  student  of  the  possibilities  of  sheepskin 
and  drumsticks.  Before  this,  when  the  Company  was  drilling 
in  Ware,  among  the  spectators,  was  Count  Leo  Schwabe, 
the  famous  German  count,  who  was  so  much  impressed  by  the 
performance  of  the  juvenile  musician  that  he  presented  to 
the  lad  a  solid  silver  cup  and  spoon,  engraved  "M.  W.,  Co.  D, '' 
the  presentation  being  made  by  that  eloquent  lawyer,  after 
wards  Lieut.  Colonel  of  the  31st  Regiment,  W.  S.  B.  Hopkins. 

At  the  reunion  of  1906,  held  in  Springfield,  Myron  P.  Walker 
delivered  a  specially  appropriate  address  on  the  life  and  ser 
vices  of  his  former  Captain  and  Lieut.  Colonel,  Joseph  B. 
Parsons,  then  so  recently  deceased.  The  sketch  is  printed 
in  full,  on  preceding  pages.  June  21,  1907,  at  Pittsfield,  was 
rendered  noteworthy  in  regimental  annals  through  the  dedi 
cation,  there  and  then,  of  a  marker  or  memorial  to  com 
memorate  the  distinguished  services  of  General  Henry  S. 
Briggs,  the  first  commander  of  the  regiment.  The  address 
of  the  Hon.  F.  W.  Rockwell  may  be  found  earlier  in  this 
volume. 

Unless  otherwise  provided,  the  regular  meetings  in  later 
years  have  been  held  in  Springfield,  this  being  most  easily 
reached  by  the  greatest  number  of  the  survivors.  That  for 
1908  was  held  in  Memorial  Hall,  Monday,  June  22d,  where  a 
goodly  number  of  the  "Old  Boys"  assembled,  visited,  and 
partook  of  a  most  excellent  dinner,  provided  by  the  local 
Relief  Corps,  "E.  K.  Wilcox,"  No.  14.  The  special  subject 
for  consideration  by  the  veterans  was  the  new  history  of  the 
Regiment,  then  in  progress. 

REGIMENTAL  NURSES 

When,  in  the  fall  of  1861,  typhoid  fever  was  decimating 
the  ranks  of  the  Tenth  at  Brighwood,  two  ministering  angels 


REGIMENTAL  NURSES 

in  human  form,  left  their  happy  northern  homes  to  serve 
these  men  in  camp.  Their  stay  with  the  regiment  was  a  bless 
ing  from  the  start  and  every  soldier,  whether  well  or  ill,  has- 
never  failed  to  sing  their  praises  when  the  names  of  Mrs. 
Merrick  and  Miss  Wolcott  were  mentioned. 

Mrs.    Anne    Sophia    Merrick   was    born    in    Northampton, 
November    18,    1818,   the   daughter   of   Cephas   and   Sophia 


j£ 

'^BBBR^' 


Miss  Wolcott,  Mrs.  Merrick. 

REGIMENTAL  NURSES. 

(Mann)  Clapp  and  became  the  wife  of  Solyman  Merrick  in 
Northampton,  June  13,  1848.  Removing  to  Springfield,  they 
were  residing  there  when  Mr.  Merrick  died,  Oct.  1,  1852.  Mrs. 
Merrick,  it  will  be  observed,  was  a  widow  when  she  volunteered 
to  minister  to  the  suffering  soldiers  in  Washington.  In  this 
capacity  she  continued  until,  herself  stricken  with  fever,  she 
was  compelled  to  return  home,  Miss  Wolcott  accompanying 
her.  Both  of  the  ladies  became  honorary  members  of  the 
Regimental  Association  and  were  regular  attendants  at  the 
reunions  until  debarred  by  death  or  age.  Mrs.  Merrick  died 
May  2,  1879  and  is  buried  in  Springfield. 

Miss  Helen  Wolcott,  daughter  of  Wm.  Frederick  and  Lois 
(Bryant)  Wolcott,  was  born  in  Springfield,  September  26,  1826, 
her  father  being  a  descendant  from  Oliver  Wolcott,  one  of 
Connecticut's  Signers  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence, 
born  November  26,  1726.  Our  Army  Nurse  lacked  just  two 


330  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

months  of  being  a  century  younger  than  her  distinguished 
ancestor.  Her  lineage  also  made  her  a  relative  of  the  late 
Roger  Wolcott,  Governor  of  Massachusetts.  For  many  years 
she  has  resided  in  Agawam  and  thence  she  sends  the  follow 
ing  letter  to  J.  H.  Hendrick: 

"Agawam,  Aug.  19,  1908. 

In  regard  to  Mrs.  Merrick  and  myself,  nurses  in  the  old 
Tenth  Regiment,  I  could  tell  you  more  than  I  can  write. 
It  is  all  very  fresh  in  my  mind.  The  first  night  we  slept  on 
the  floor  of  the  tent.  The  next  day  the  carpenter  made  us 
a  very  good  bedstead.  I  shall  never  forget  how  glad  the  sick 
men  were  to  see  us,  as  one  said,  'Any  one  in  petticoats.'  I 
fully  recall  one  from  Northampton,  who  died  very  soon,  his 
parents  coming  at  the  very  last  moment.  Mrs.  Blair  came 
often  to  see  and  care  for  us." 

The  Mrs.  Blair,  referred  to  was  doubtless  Mrs.  Frank  P. 
Blair  whose  stately  home  was  near.  At  this  writing,  the  very 
close  of  1908,  Miss  Wolcott  continues  to  reside  in  Agawam. 


THE  TENTH  AND  HER  COLORS 

On  the  Return  of  the  Regiment 

Hurrah  for. the  flags,  battle-stained  and  worn, 

Which  the  bold,  brave  Tenth  so  nobly  hath  borne 

Through  wearisome  marches  and  many  a  fight ; 

Three  cheers  for  the  flags  that  now  greet  our  sight. 

But  three  times  three  for  that  patriot  band 

Who  went  forth  with  the  flags  and  their  lives  in  their  hand ; 

Throughout  our  land,  from  its  length  to  its  breadth, 

We'll  gratefully  honor  the  "Glorious  Tenth." 

Then  three  cheers  for  the  flags,  and  nine  for  the  men, 

Let  the  shout  re-echo  again  and  again, 

Let  the  cannon  boom  and  the  drum  sound  afar — 

For  the  Tenth  and  her  colors,  Hurrah!     Hurrah!! 

— By  a  Chicopee  lady 


REGIMENTAL  COLORS 


331 


REGIMENTAL  COLORS. 

Now  in  Hall  of  Flags,  State  House.  1st  Sergt.  H.  M.  Converse,  (I)  and  E.  B. 
Gates  (F),  who  carried  the  Flags  on  the  return  to  the  Commonwealth,  Dec.  22, 
1865.  From  a  photograph  made  that  day  by  Black. 


332  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


REGIMENTAL  ROSTER 

To  compile  the  following  array  of  names  and  data,  extra 
ordinary  pains  have  been  taken  to  secure  measurably  correct 
results.  Not  only  were  the  names  taken  from  the  corrected 
rolls  preserved  at  the  State  House,  but  the  same  have  been 
compared  with  the  report  of  Adjutant  General  Wm.  Schouler, 
published  in  1870;  also  the  Roster  as  published  in  1875  by 
Capt.  J.  K.  Newell  has  been  utilized,  wherever  possible;  be 
sides,  letters  were  sent  to  all  surviving  members  of  the  regiment 
soliciting  such  changes  and  additions  as  might  conduce  to 
the  value  of  the  proposed  volume.  The  result  of  all  this  labor 
appears  on  the  succeeding  pages.  For  better  or  for  worse 
it  must  stand  as  the  final  record  of  more  than  twelve  hundred 
men  who  did  and  dared,  many  of  them  dying  for  what  they 
deemed  the  right.  Save  the  great  Book  of  Books,  the  Bible, 
nothing  in  printed  form,  higher  or  holier,  can  exist  than  the 
record  of  a  regiment  that  served  in  preserving  the  Union  and 
in  freeing  the  slave. 

For  the  sake  of  brevity,  a  system  of  abbreviations  obtains 
in  the  Roster,  as  well  as  a  stated  order,  which,  once  under 
stood,  will  enable  the  reader  to  follow  every  name  readily; 
thus  the  family  name  of  the  soldier  comes  first,  followed  by 
his  Christian  appellation;  then  come  in  order  his  birthplace, 
age,  whether  married  or  single,  occupation,  residence  when  en 
listed,  date  of  enlistment  or  muster-in;  such  incidents  of  his 
military  life  as  properly  belong  in  the  record  as  wounded, 
captured,  deserted,  killed  or  died,  with  final  discharge  or 
muster-out.  If  requisite  data  cannot  be  found,  the  space  is 
left  blank.  The  following  list  of  abbreviations  if  carefully 
studied  will  facilitate  the  reading  of  the  Roster. 

List  of  Abbreviations:  ab.  =  absent;  b.  =  born;  bur.= 
buried;  bvt.=  brevet;  A.  A.  G.  =  Assistant  Adjutant  General; 
C.  H.  =  Court  House;  Capt.  =  Captain;  com.  =  commission ; 
Corp.  =  corporal;  cr.  =  credited;  d.  =  died  or  dead;  desert.  = 
deserted;  dis.  =  discharged;  disa.  =  disability ;  en.  =  enlisted; 
ex.  of  s.  =  expiration  of  service;  O.  W.  D.  =  Order  of  the  War 
Dept.;  k.  =  killed;  M.  O.  =  mustered  out;  M.  =  married; 
M.  R.  =  Muster  Roll ;  Mus.  =  musician;  N.  F.  R.  =  no  further 
record,  N.  S.  H.  =  National  Soldiers'  Home;  prom.  =  pro 
moted  ;  rep .  =  reported ;  res.  =  resigned ;  (R)  =  recruit ;  re.  = 
re-enlisted;  S.  =  single;  Sergt.  =  sergeant;  S.  H.  =  Soldiers' 


FIELD  AND  STAFF  333 

Home  in  Chelsea;  Soc.  =  Society ;  S.  O.  =  Special  Order; 
trans.  =  transfer;  V.  R.  C.  =  Veteran  Reserve  Corps;  wd.= 
wound  or  wounded;  W.  D.  =  War  Department. 

Illustrations: 

Felton,  Samuel,  Jr.,  b.  Roxbury;  25,  S.;  carpenter,  Belcher- 
town;  June  4,  '61;  served  entire  enlistment  as  brigade 
carpenter;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  millwright,  Wor 
cester;  rep.  d.  1904. 

Foster,  Wm.  A.  P.  (R),  b.  Boston;  24,  S.;  farmer,  Whately; 
Sept.  1,  '61;  wd.  arm,  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  wd.  May 
5,  '64,  Wilderness;  ab.  through  wounds  at  time  of  trans. 
June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass,  dis.;  Dec.  6,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF 

COLONELS 

Henry  S.  Briggs,  b.  Lanesboro;  36,  M.;  lawyer,  Pittsfield; 
June  21,  '61;  prom.  Brigadier  General,  July  17,  '62;  wd. 
three  times,  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  in  various  capacities 
served  until  Dec.  6,  '65;  elected  State  Auditor,  1865;  he 
held  the  office  the  three  following  years;  from  1869  to 
1873,  was  Judge  of  the  District  Court  of  Central  Berk 
shire,  Pittsfield;  d.  Sept.  23,  1887,  Pittsfield;  as  Cap 
tain  of  the  Active  Guards  of  Pittsfield,  8th  M.  V.  M., 
he  was  one  of  the  first  in  the  fray,  resigning  his  Captaincy 
June  10  to  organize  the  Tenth  Regiment.  For  extended 
sketch,  see  p.  301. 

Henry  L.  Eustis,  b.  Feb.  1,  1819,  Fort  Independence,  Boston 
Harbor;  43,  M.  Harvard  Professor,  Cambridge;  Aug. 
15,  '62;  prom.  Brigadier  General,  U.  S.  V.  Sept.  12,  '63; 
on  account  of  ill  health,  res.  June  27,  '64;  d.  Jan.  11,  '85, 
Cambridge.  The  son  of  Brig.  Gen.  Abraham  Eustis, 
U.  S.  A.,  our  second  Colonel  was  born  a  soldier;  his 
father  was  graduated  from  Harvard,  1804;  himself,  1838, 
a  classmate  of  General  Charles  Devens,  James  Russell 
Lowell  and  W.  W.  Story,  the  artist;  thence  entering 
West  Point  he  was  graduated,  No.  1,  in  a  class  of  fifty-six 
members,  1842,  being  thus  associated  with  subsequent 
Union  generals,  John  Newton,  John  D.  Kurtz,  W.  S. 
Rosecrans,  John  Pope,  Abner  Doubleday,  and  George 
Sykes;  the  most  distinguished  of  his  classmates,  to  be 
come  Rebel  officers  were  A.  P.  Stewart,  D.  H.  Hill,  Lafay 
ette  McLaws,  Earl  Van  Dorn,  and  James  Longstreet  who 


334 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


BRIGADIER  GENERAL  HENRY  LAWRENCE  EUSTIS. 
Second  Colonel  Tenth  Massachusetts  Infantry. 


FIELD  AND  STAFF  335 

was  No.  54  in  class  rank.  His  own  class  position  entitled 
Eustis  to  a  place  in  the  Engineer  service  and  in  this 
capacity  he  served  in  Boston,  in  the  construction  of  Fort 
Warren  and  the  sea  wall  at  Lovell's  Island  and  other 
fortifications;  from  1847  to  1849  he  was  principal  Asst. 
Prof,  of  Engineering  at  West  Point.  Resigning  in  1849, 
he  came  to  the  new  Lawrence  Scientific  School  of  Harvard 
and  here  his  subsequent  life  was  spent,  save  the  part 
given  to  the  War  of  the  Rebellion. 

LIEUTENANT  COLONELS 

Jeflord  M.  Decker,  b.  Wiscasset,  Me.;  47,  M.;  hotel-keeper, 
Lawrence;  June  21,  '61;  his  skill  and  ability  as  drill- 
master  were  of  great  service  to  the  Regiment  in  its  earlier 
days;  while  at  Brightwood  he  was  in  command  of  the 
7th  Mass,  for  several  months,  filling  the  position  with 
credit  and  satisfaction;  suffering  from  chronic  rheumatic 
attacks,  he  could  not  endure  the  exposures  of  active  ser 
vice  and  censequently  resigned,  July  17,  '62;  a  resident 
of  Lawrence,  Col.  Decker  had  been  at  the  head  of  the 
Tenth  Regiment  Militia,  before  that  having  served  for 
some  time  as  Captain  of  a  Lawrence  Company ;  in  organiz 
ing  the  new  Tenth  he  took  the  second  place ;  subsequent 
to  his  service  in  the  Tenth,  he  became  First  Lieut,  and 
Adjutant  of  the  52d  Mass.,  thus  having  a  nine  months' 
experience  in  the  Department  of  the  Gulf;  d.  Jan.  1, 
1870,  Salem. 

Joseph  B.  Parsons,  from  Captain  Co.  C,  July  15,  '62;  in  this 
capacity,  Col.  Parsons  commanded  the  Regiment  after 
the  promotion  of  Col.  Eustis,  the  numbers  in  the  ranks 
being  so  far  below  the  minimum  that  an  officer  of  higher 
rank  could  not  be  mustered ;  though  always  with  his  men 
in  the  thickest  of  the  fray  he  was  not  wounded  after 
assuming  command;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  subsequently  to 
the  War,  he  commanded  the  Second  Regiment  M.  V.  M. 
several  years;  in  1888,  he  was  appointed  State  Pension 
Agent,  holding  the  position  at  the  time  of  his  death;  no 
man  held  a  higher  place  in  the  affections  of  his  men  than 
their  Lieut.  Colonel;  when  Northampton  celebrated  her 
250th  anniversary,  she  called  home,  as  orator  of  the 
occasion,  Jos.  B.  Parsons  and  he  gave  the  address  on  the 
grounds  that  had  been  in  his  family  a  quarter  of  a  millen 
nium;  b.  April  29,  1828,  he  died  June  4,  1906  in  Winthrop, 


336  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

though  his  residence  had  been  in  Roxbury  for  some  time. 
For  a  more  extended  estimate,  see  p.  307. 

MAJORS 

William  R.  Marsh,  b.  Walpole,  N.  H.,  Jan.  26,  1828;  33,  M.; 
hotel-keeper,  Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  had  served 
ten  years  in  the  Militia,  Tenth  Regt.,  rising  from  Fourth 
Lieut,  to  the  command  of  Co.  C;  naturally  a  prominent 
place  fell  to  his  lot  in  the  newly  organized  regiment;  res. 
June  14,  '62. 

Ozro  Miller,  from  Co.  H,  June  15,  '62;  commanded  Regiment 
July  1,  '62  and  was  shot  in  the  neck  by  a  Rebel  sharp 
shooter  ;  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  he  was  carried 
to  Libby  Prison,  Richmond,  where  he  died,  July  15,  '62; 
on  the  fourteenth  of  the  following  September,  funeral 
services  were  held  in  Shelburne  Falls  by  the  united  three 
congregations  in  the  Baptist  edifice,  the  eulogy  being 
pronounced  by  the  Rev.  G.  H.  Deere;  Messrs.  Loomis 
and  Gray  followed  in  addresses  directed  more  especially 
to  the  Masonic  order  and  the  citizens  and  soldiers  present ; 
an  adaptation  of  "The  Vacant  Chair,"  then  in  its  first 
year  of  popularity,  was  rendered  in  a  most  impressive 
manner.  The  closing  paragraph  of  Mr.  Deere 's  eulogy 
follows  : 

"In  closing,  allow  me  to  say  that  this  loyal  man, — who 
was  so  compassionately  mindful  of  you  whose  kindred  were  in 
his  care,  so  considerate  of  the  welfare  of  his  men  in  camp,  so 
pleasantly  calm  and  nobly  brave,  powerful  and  controlling  in 
battle,  and  whose  heroic  death  closed  so  enviable  a  public 
career, — was,  in  private  life,  the  blameless  son  and  brother, 
the  tender  father,  the  faithful  and  affectionate  husband,  the 
industrious  and  scrupulously  honest  business  man,  the  public- 
spirited  citizen,  a  man  whose  intimate  friendship  was  not 
cheaply  purchased,  but  'the  friends  he  had  and  their  adop 
tion  tried,  he  grappled  them  to  his  soul  with  hooks  of  steel.' 
And,  touching  all  the  mournful  keys  of  our  bereavement,  the 
words  of  God?s  providence  sweep  over  our  bowed  souls:  'He 
shall  return  no  more  to  his  house,  neither  shall  his  place  know 
him  any  more.": 

Dexter  F.  Parker,  b.  Aug.  2,  1828,  Boston;  34,  M.;  mechanic, 
Worcester;  Aug.  12,  '62;  wd.  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania ; 
a  Minie  ball  hit  and  shattered  his  right  arm,  eight  days 


FIELD  AND  STAFF 

later  amputation  was  necessary,  and  he  did  not  rally  from 
the  shock,  dying  May  30,  '64;  his  remains  were  sent  home 
to  Worcester  where  a  public  funeral  was  accorded  him, 
the  services  being  held  in  the  First  Unitarian  Church  of 
which  he  was  a  member;  addresses  were  given  by  the 
Pastor,  Dr.  Alonzo  Hill  and  Dr.  M.  Richardson  of  the 
Salem  Street  Congregational  Church;  the  burial  was  in 
Rural  Cemetery;  early  orphaned,  the  subsequent  officer 
by  perseverance  and  diligence  soon  demonstrated  the 
possibilities  of  American  living;  at  fourteen  he  was  self- 
supporting  and,  besides,  able  to  pay  his  own  way  through 
several  terms  of  academy  study;  from  1850  onward,  he 
was  a  citizen  of  Worcester,  during  the  earlier  years  a  work 
man  in  a  boot-shop ;  a  studious  reader,  an  ardent  advo 
cate  of  all  reformatory  measures,  eloquent  and  ready  in 
speech,  he  soon  became  a  prominent  figure  in  local  affairs; 
of  strong  literary  tastes,  he  was  a  contributor  to  Hunt's 
Merchants'  Magazine  and  in  1856  was  elected  to  the  lower 
branch  of  the  Legislature,  returning  there  in  1858  also; 
in  1859  and  1860  he  represented  the  city  in  the  Senate  and 
1861  found  him  again  in  the  House;  the  firing  upon 
Sumter  found  the  man  ready  who,  as  a  boy,  had  failed  in 
his  efforts  to  enlist  for  the  Mexican  War;  joining  the 
Light  Infantry,  Sixth  Regt.,  in  Washington,  he  was  later 
promoted  Fourth  Lieut.;  from  subsequent  Quartermas 
ter  and  Staff  service  he  was  advanced  to  his  final  position 
in  the  Tenth. 

ADJUTANTS    AND    ACTING    ADJUTANTS 

Oliver  Edwards,  b.  Jan.  30,  1835,  Springfield;  26,  S. ;  machinist, 
Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  while  the  Regiment  was  at 
Brightwood,  he  served  as  senior  Aid-de-camp  on  the  staff 
of  General  Darius  Couch  and  continued  in  this  capacity 
until  Aug.  9,  '62,  when  he  was  commissioned  Major  of 
the  37th  Mass.,  then  organizing  in  Pittsfield;  Aug.  27,  '62 
he  was  prom.  Colonel,  serving  with  great  distinction  to  the 
end  of  the  War;  bvt.  Brig.  Gen.,  Oct.  19,  '64;  Brig. 
Gen.,  May  19,  '65;  and  bvt.  Major  Gen.,  April  5,  '65; 
M.  O.  Jan.  15,  '66;  following  the  War,  was  for  several 
years  postmaster  at  Warsaw,  111.;  in  1875,  resided  in 
Florence,  Supt.  Florence  Sewing  Machine  Co. ;  owing  to 
his  wife's  ill  health,  he  soon  left  Florence  and,  for  a  time, 
was  Supt.  of  a  gun  factory  in  England,  but  later  went 
back  to  Warsaw  where  lie  remained  until  his  death, 


338  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

April  28,  1904 ;  few  citizen  soldiers  from  any  state  merited 
or  won  greater  recognition  than  Adjutant  Edwards;  to 
him  Mayor  Town  of  Petersburg  surrendered  that  city  and 
his  brilliant  services  at  Opequon  won  for  him  his  brevet 
Brigadier  Generalship. 

Hiram  A.  Keith;  during  the  time  Adj.  Edwards  was  serving 
on  the  staff  of  General  Couch,  for  the  most  part,  his 
duties  in  the  Tenth  were  preformed  by  Lieut.  Keith  of 
Company  F. 

Flavel  Shurtleff  of  Co.  A,  was  Acting  Adjutant  during  October 
and  November,  1862. 

Charles  H.  Brewster,  Co.  C,  assumed  the  adjutancy,  Dec.  21, 
'62  and  retained  the  same  to  the  end  of  the  Regiment's 
service;  though  exposed  to  all  the  dangers  of  the  cam 
paigns  he  was  so  fortunate  as  to  escape  unscathed;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64;  from  July  to  Nov.  '64,  on  recruiting  service, 
Norfolk,  Va.,  with  rank  of  Captain  and  A.  A.  G. ;  bvt. 
Major,  Mar.  13,  '65;  in  1875,  Northampton;  d.  suddenly, 
New  York  City,  Oct.  7,  1893. 

QUARTERMASTERS 

John  W.  Rowland;  43,  M.;  hotel-keeper,  Pittsfield;  June 
21,  '61;  res.  Sept.  29,  '62,  to  be  commissioned  Captain, 
Assistant  Quartermaster,  U.  S.  Vols.,  Sept.  30,  '62;  in 
1873,  resided  near  Great  Barrington. 

Charles  Wheeler,  Co.  D,  having  declined  a  Captain's  commis 
sion,  followed  Lieut.  Rowland  and  continued  till  his  resig 
nation,  Dec.  20,  '62;  in  the  fall  of  1863  agent  of  paper 
warehouse,  Chicago;  vide  Co.  D. 

Allen  S.  Mansir,  Co.  A,  served  from  Dec.  21,  '62,  until  his  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  keeping  a  meat  market  and  holding 
the  office  of  deputy  sheriff,  Pittsfield;  d.  Gt.  Barrington. 

SURGEONS 

Cyrus  N.  Chamberlain,  b.  West  Barnstable;  30,  S.;  physician, 
Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  as  an  expression  of  the  good 
will  of  fellow  citizens  the  surgeon  carried  away  with  him 
from  his  city,  a  surgeon's  sword  and  sash  with  a  brace  of 
Smith  and  Wesson's  revolvers;  dis.  April  13,  '63  to  be  ap 
pointed  Surgeon  of  Volunteers;  was  in  continuous  and 
active  service  in  the  field  until  Aug.  1,  '64,  save  the  winter 
of  '63  and  '64,  when  he  was  in  Philadelphia  at  work;  in 


FIELD  AND  STAFF 


Surg.  C.  N.  Chamberlain, 
Ass't.  Surg.  Wm.  Holbrook, 


Surg.  A.  B.  Robinson, 


Chap.  F.  B.  Perkins, 
Adj't.  Oliver  Edwards. 


FIELD  AND  STAFF. 


Aug.  '64  he  was  ordered  to  Worcester  to  organize  the 
Dale  U.  S.  Gen'l  Hosp.,  continuing  there  till  his  M.  O. 
Oct.  7,  '65;  bvt.  Lieut.  Colonel,  U.  S.  Volunteers,  Oct. 
6,  '65;  in  1875,  physician  and  surgeon,  Lawrence;  d.  1900. 
Albert  B.  Robinson;  May  15,  '63;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  later 
surgeon,  42d  Mass.,  100  days'  service;  M.  O.  Nov.  11,  '64; 
in  1875,  physician,  Boston  Highlands;  was  prominent 
in  medical,  Masonic  and  Grand  Army  circles;  d.  Mar. 
29,  1908,  Roxbury,  aged  73  years;  bur.  Holden. 

ASSISTANT    SURGEONS 

William  Holbrook,  b.  Sturbridge;  38,  M.;  physician,  Palmer; 
June  21,  '61;  prom.  Surgeon,  18th  Mass.,  Jan.  13,  '62; 
was  Surgeon-in-Chief,  First  Brig.,  First  Div.,  Fifth  Corps; 


340  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

M.  O.  Sept.  2,  '64;  in  1875,  Palmer,  where  he  had  prac 
ticed  medicine  twenty-six  years,  except  as  he  was  absent 
during  the  war;  dead. 

Albert  B.  Robinson,  b.  Pelham;  28,  M.;  physician,  Holden; 
Aug.  9,  '62;  prom.  Surgeon;  Dr.  Robinson  was  born 
April  12,  1835;  studied  at  Monson  Academy  and  was 
graduated  M.D.  from  the  Buffalo  University,  Feb.  27, 
1857;  practiced  first  in  Amherst,  next,  Holden,  where 
the  war  found  him. 

George  Jewett,  b.  Ridge,  N.  H.,  April  28,  1825;  physician, 
Fitchburg;  Jan.  21,  '62;  prom.  Surgeon,  51st  Mass., 
Nov.  4,  '62;  M.  O.  July  27,  '63;  in  1875,  physician, 
Fitchburg;  d.  Dec.  16,  1894. 

John  H.  Oilman,  b.  Sangerville,  Me.,  Feb.  24,  1836;  physician, 
Lowell;  Mar.  18,  '63;  educated  at  public  schools  and 
Phillips-Andover ;  M.D.,  Harvard,  1863;  had  served  in 
the  Sanitary  Commission  gratuitously  in  the  campaigns 
of  McClellan  and  Pope;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  later,  entered 
the  service  as  Acting  Asst.  Surg.,  U.  S.  Army,  remaining 
until  the  end  of  the  war;  in  1869  and  1870  was  City 
Physician,  Lowell;  d.  1890. 

CHAPLAINS 

Frederick  A.  Barton,  b.  Chester,  Vt.;  52,  M.;  clergyman, 
Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  a  pastor  in  Indian  Orchard, 
he  had  been  especially  outspoken  in  his  sentiments  con 
cerning  the  duties  of  the  hour,  and  early  set  about  raising 
a  Hampden  County  Regiment,  two  Companies  of  which 
were  enlisted  and  were  encamped  on  the  Park ;  the  accept 
ance  of  the  Tenth  Regt.  Militia  changed  the  course  of 
events,  one  of  the  Companies  going  into  the  Tenth  under 
his  son,  as  Captain,  the  other,  raised  by  Oliver  Edwards, 
being  divided  up  among  the  other  companies,  he  himself 
becoming  Chaplain  of  the  Regiment;  res.  May  1,  '62; 
a  graduate  of  Dartmouth,  Class  of  '31,  he  lived  in  Boston, 
1880;  d.  1881;  the  chaplain's  military  training  was  rec'd 
at  the  Military  School,  Norwich,  Vt.,  class  of  1826. 

Adoniram  J.  Bingham,  pastor  of  the  Central  Baptist  Church, 
Westfield,  was  commissioned  Aug.  13,  '62;  his  infirm 
health  would  not  admit  of  his  long  stay  in  the  service; 
res.  Jan.  16,  '63. 

Francis  B.  Perkins,  b.  Boston,  Aug.  7,  1833;  clergyman, 
Montague;  Oct.  23,  '63;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  graduated 


NON-COMMISSIONED  &TAFP  341 

Williams  College,  1854,  later  Andover  Theological  Semi 
nary;  his  pastorates  in  the  Congregational  church  were 
on  both  coasts  of  the  Continent;  in  the  East  he  was  in 
Montague,  Jamaica  Plain,  and  Stockbridge;  in  California, 
Sonoma,  at  Grass  Valley,  San  Diego,  and  San  Lorenzo; 
in  other  capacities,  he  was  Dist.  Sec.  American  Tract  Soc., 
Boston;  Supt.  American  Home  Missionary  Soc.  in  Colo 
rado;  in  1890,  Chaplain,  Ninth  Regt.,  National  Guard  of 
California;  from  1895,  his  home  was  in  Oakland,  Cal., 
where  he  died,  Nov.  14,  1906. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  STAFF 

SERGEANT    MAJORS 

Edward  Kirk  Wilcox,  b.  Springfield;  19,  S.;  bookkeeper, 
Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  a  member  of  the  Class  of  '62, 
Williams  College,  he  was  temporarily  at  home  when  the 
war  began;  enlisting  at  once,  he  was  elected  Second 
Lieut,  of  Oliver  Edwards'  Company  and,  when  that  body  of 
men  was  broken  up,  he  became  the  Sergeant  Major  of  the 
Regiment ;  he  accompanied  the  Regiment  to  Washington 
where  he  was  dis.  Oct.  2,  '61  for  com.  as  First  Lieut,  in  the 
27th  Mass.;  prom.  Captain,  Feb.  13,  '62;  he  was  killed  at 
Cold  Harbor,  June  2,  '64;  quite  the  ideal  soldier,  he  per 
formed  much  staff  duty  and  was  serving  thus  with  General 
Stannard  when,  bearing  despatches  across  the  field,  he  saw 
his  own  regiment  charging  upon  an  earthwork;  respond 
ing  to  their  gallant  cheer,  he  sprang  to  their  head  and, 
sword  in  hand,  leaped  upon  the  work,  only  to  fall  the  next 
moment  riddled  with  bullets;  his  soldierly  form  and 
features  stand  out  in  an  oil  painting,  possessed  by  E.  K. 
Wilcox  Post,  No.  16,  of  Springfield,  ever  an  inspiration  to 
the  comrades,  while  his  Alma  Mater,  "Williams,"  in  1869, 
recognizing  his  signal  merit,  added  his  name  to  the  roll 
of  the  Class  of  1862  as  a  regular  graduate. 

Elihu  B.  Whittlesey,  from  Q.  M.  Sergt.;  Oct.  21,  '61;  prom. 
Second  Lieut.,  June  1,  '62;  Co.  D. 

Edwin  B.  Bartlett,  from  Co.  F;  July  1,  '62;  prom.  Second 
Lieut.,  Sept.  29,  '62,  Co.  B. 

Moses  W.  Evans,  from  Co.  K;  Oct.  10,  '62;  dis.  Feb.  7,  '63, 
disa.;  dead. 

George  F.  Policy,  from  Co.  C;  Feb.  9,  '63;  re.  Dec.  22,  '63; 
prom.  First  Lieut.  May  6,  '64;  it  does  not  appear  that 


342  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

he  was  assigned  to  any  company  in  the  Tenth,  a  transfer 
to  the  55th  Mass,  being  in  transit  when  he  was  killed,  June 
20,  '64,  in  front  of  Petersburg. 


SERGT.  MAJOR  R.  W.  BOWLES. 

Roslin  W.  Bowles,  from  Co.  E;  June  24,  '64;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
in  1875  in  oyster  trade,  Norfolk,  Va.;  was  the  War 
Correspondent  of  the  Spring-field  Republican  during  the 
entire  service  and  many  of  his  items  have  found  perma 
nent  lodgement  in  this  volume. 

QUARTERMASTER  SERGEANTS 

Elihu  B.  Whittlesey,  b.  New  York  City;  20,  S.;  bookkeeper, 
Pittsfield;  June  21,  '61;  prom.  Sergt.  Major,  Oct.  21,  '61. 

Edward  H.  Graves,  from  Co.  C;  Oct.  — ,  '61;  prom.  Second 
Lieut.,  Nov.  3,  '62;  Co.  C. 

William  B.  Allen,  from  Co.  C;  Nov.  3,  '62;  re.  Jan.  20,  '64; 
prom.  First  Lieut.,  June  21,  '64,  and  trans,  to  37th  Mass., 
whence  he  was  discharged  as  supernumerary ;  not  assigned 
to  any  company;  1908,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

COMMISSARY    SERGEANTS 

Frank  J.  Childs,  b.  Becket;  25,  M.;  machinist,  Chester; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  June  18,  '62,  disa.;  in  1875,  resided  in 
Chester. 


REGIMENTAL  BAND  343 

William  F.  Darby,  from  Co.  B;  June  19,  '62;  prom.  Second 
Lieut.,  Nov.  26,  '62;  Co.  I. 

Andrew  T.  Huntington,  from  Co.  F;  dates  as  to  term  of  ser 
vice  wanting  but  it  would  seem  that  it  covered  the  time 
between  Darby  and  Barber;  trans,  to  U.  S.  A.  as  Hosp. 
Steward,  April  18,  '64. 

Hubert  L.  Barber,  from  Co.  A;  March  1,  '64;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

HOSPITAL    STEWARDS 

Charles  C.  Wells,  b.  Port  Gibson,  Miss.;  21,  S.;  clerk,  North 
ampton;  dis.  Oct.  17,  '62,  disa. 

Jonathan  D.  Warner,  from  Co.  C;  Oct.  10,  '62;  re.  Dec.  21, 
'63;  Trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  dis.  as  Hosp. 
Steward,  Tenth  Regt.,  Nov.  16,  '64;  in  1872,  resided 
Hatfield;  dead. 

PRINCIPAL    MUSICIANS 

John  L.  Gaffney,  b.  Ireland;  38,  — .;  •  — ,  Springfield; 
June  21, '61;  dis.  April  30, '62,  disa. ;  later  came  back  into 
the  Brigade  as  Drum  Major,  37th  Mass.,  and  remained 
until  the  M.  O.  June  21,  '65;  in  1872,  Haydenville;  dead. 

William  M.  Kingsley,  from  Co.  C;  June  2,  '63;  M.  O.  July  1, 
'64;  dead. 

Charles  A.  Gilmore,  from  Co.  A;  June  5,  '63;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
manifestly  there  is  an  absurdity  in  there  being  two  princi 
pal  musicians  at  practically  the  same  time,  and  Newell 
names  William  Hazlett  of  B  and  George  Burnham  of  I 
besides,  though  with  no  dates;  Schouler  in  his  Record  of 
Mass.  Vols.  gives  Gilmore  and  Kingsley  only;  both 
Burnham  and  Gilmore  dead. 

REGIMENTAL  BAND 

At  the  beginning  of  the  War,  brass  bands  were  considered 
essential  parts  of  every  regiment,  particularly  those  from 
Massachusetts,  and  the  Tenth  was  so  fortunate  as  to  secure 
the  services  of  Hodge's  Band  of  North  Adams,  one  of  the  most 
noted  in  the  western  portion  of  the  Commonwealth.  Com 
posed  of  well  disposed,  happily  constituted  men,  the  band 
rendered  excellent  service  during  the  little  more  than  one  year 
of  its  continuance  with  the  Regiment.  When  the  General 
Order,  No.  78,  was  issued,  August,  1862,  mustering  out  all 
such  organizations,  the  band  and  the  men  had  to  part  company, 


344  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSTETS  INFANTRY 

to  the  common  sorrow  of  all.  The  musicians  were  M.  O., 
Aug.  11,  '62,  at  Harrison's  Landing,  and  at  once  set  out  for 
home,  reaching  North  Adams,  Aug.  16,  '62.  In  the  winter  of 
1863-64,  when  the  Brigade  of  General  Eustis  in  which  the 
Tenth  was  serving,  was  encamped  at  Brandy  Station,  the 
band  was  reorganized  under  the  leadership  of  Burdick  A. 
Stewart  and  Feb.  4,  '64,  again  went  to  the  front  as  the  band 
of  Eustis's  Brigade.  Unfortunately,  shortly  after  reaching 
Brandy  Station,  Leader  Stewart  died,  Feb.  1864,  and  was 
succeeded  by  John  D.  Worth.  Eustis's  Brigade  was  fourth  in 
the  Second  Division  of  the  Sixth  Army  Corps.  The  brigade 
band  was  wherever  the  Sixth  Corps  went;  at  the  battle  of 
the  Wilderness  they  were  ordered  from  the  extreme  front  to 
assist  the  surgeons  at  the  division  hospital.  In  all  the  hard 
fought  battles  of  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  from  the  Wilder 
ness  to  Petersburg,  in  the  time  of  battle  the  band  assisted  the 
surgeons,  but  on  the  march  they  accompanied  their  Brigade 
and  were  quartered  at  brigade  headquarters.  In  the  summer 
of  1864  the  most  of  the  Brigade  being  discharged,  through 
expiration  of  service,  the  balance  of  the  Brigade  was  merged 
with  the  Second  and,  during  the  Shenandoah  campaign,  Sept. 
19,  1864,  the  two  brigade  bands  were  united  and  the  excess 
of  members  discharged. 

Hodge,  William  D.,  (leader)  b.  North  Adams;  39,  M.;  musi 
cian,  North  Adams;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  Aug.  11,  '62;  for 
nine  years  after  the  War  he  played  in  different  circus 
bands,  but  his  later  years  were. devoted  to  the  keeping  of 
a  music  and  jewelry  store  in  North  Adams  where  he  died, 
Feb.  5,  1908,  aged  86  years. 

Chase,  Edward  A.;  19,  S.;  mechanic,  North  Adams;  June 
21,  '61;  d.  Brightwood,  D.  C.,  Sept.  25,  '61;  bur.  North 
Adams. 

Clark,  Francis  L.,  b.  North  Adams;  23,  S.;  shoemaker,  North 
Adams;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  Aug.  11,  '62;  re.  July  26, 
Co.  E,  3d  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery;  dis.  Dec.  12,  '64,  disa.; 
in  1872,  boot  and  shoe  dealer,  North  Adams;  d.  Jan. 
4,  1876. 

Davis,  Alvah  S. ;  50,  M. ;  shoemaker,  Springfield;  June  21,'  61; 
dis.  Nov.  29,  '61;  returned  to  Springfield  and  died  soon 
after. 

Hall,  Merritt  H.;  17,  S.;  farmer,  North  Adams;  June  21,  '61; 
M.  O.  Aug.  11,  '62;  d.  Dec.  25,  1892. 


R  KGl  M  EXTAL    BAND 


345 


Hamilton,  Frederick  R. ;  20,  S.;  shoemaker,  North  Adams; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  Aug.  11,  '62;  later  in  the  band  of 
Second  Brigade;  1904,  Bath,  N.  Y. 


WM.  D.  HODGE, 


H.  A.  TOWER. 


Haskins,  Wm.  E.;  28,  M.;  shoemaker,  North  Adams;  June 
21,  '61;  M.  O.  Aug.  11,  '62;  re.  Dec.  14,  '63,  Co.  K, 
34th  Mass.;  trans.  June  16,  '65,  24th  Mass.;  M.  O.  Jan. 
20,  '66;  in  1872,  resided  in  North  Adams;  d.  May  12, 1904. 

Hodge,  Ambrose  W. ,  b.  North  Adams ;  22,  — . ;  -  — ,  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  Aug.  11,  '62;  in  1872,  manu 
facturer,  North  Adams;  d.  Feb.  4,  1891. 

Hubbard,  Wallace  A.;  en.  Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  dis. 
April  30,  '62,  disa. 

Ingraham,  Albert  K.,  b.  Williamstown ;  34,  M.;  shoemaker, 
North  Adams;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  left  shoulder,  May  31, 
'62,  Fair  Oaks;  M.  O.  Aug.  11,  '62;  in  1872,  painter, 
North  Adams;  d.  March  10,  1905. 

King,  Charles  B.,  29,  M. ;  butcher,  North  Adams;  June  21,  '61 ; 
M.  O.  Aug.  11,  '62;  in  1872,  North  Adams;  later,  Second 
Brigade  Band;  d.  Northampton  Asylum  about  1888. 

Lewis,  Frank;  24,  M.;  clerk,  North  Adams;  June  21,  '61; 
M.  O.  Aug.  11,  '62;  in  1872,  North  Adams;  d.  1879. 

Luther,  Daniel;  35,  M.;  shoemaker,  North  Adams;  June  21, 
'61;  M.  O.  Aug.  11,  '62;  later  Fourth  Brigade  Band;  in 
1872,  North  Adams;  d.  Nov.  21,  1903,  S.  H.,  Chelsea. 

Powers,  Lawson  S.;    vide  Co.  H. 


1546  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Ray,  Addison  J.;   40,  — .; ,  Springfield;   June  21,  '61; 

dis.  as  "Wray,"  O.  W.  D.,  Feb.  15,  '62;  in  1872,  North 
Adams;  d.  Jan.  6,  1906,  Jaynesville,  Wis. 

Robinson,  Henry  S.,  b.  South  Hadley  Falls;    18,  S.;   , 

Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  Aug.  11,  '62;  later,  Co. 
E,  4th  Mass.  Cav.  serving  in  the  band;  in  1869,  hotel- 
keeper,  Springfield,  where  he  died,  1870. 

Stewart,  Burdick  A. ;  24,  M.;  engraver,  Adams;  June  21,  '61; 
M.  O.  Aug.  11,  '62;  in  Jan.  1864,  reorganized  the  old 
band,  adding  new  men  where  necessary,  and  reported  to 
the  Brigade  which  included  the  Tenth;  within  a  few 
hours  after  his  arrival  at  Brandy  Station,  he  suddenly 
died;  Chaplain  Perkins  of  the  Tenth  conducted  his 
funeral  services;  the  body,  embalmed,  was  sent  home  to 
Adams  for  burial. 

Stewart,  Edward  W.,  b.  North  Adams;  24,  M.;  painter, 
Adams;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  Aug.  11,  '62;  later  served 
in  Band,  Fourth  Brig.,  Second  Div.,  6th  A.  C.;  in  1873, 
painter,  North  Adams;  d.  Sept.  1,  1906. 

Stewart,  Henry  C.,  b.  North  Adams;  24,  M. ;  engraver,  Adams. 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  Aug.  11,  '62;  later  was  in  Eustis's 
Brigade  Band;  in  1873,  glove  stitcher,  North  Bennington. 
d.  Aug.  18,  1884. 

-Stewart,  Jacob  V.,  b.  White  Creek,  N.  Y.;  34,  M.;  carpenter, 
Adams;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  July  19,  '62,  disa.;  in  1873, 
paper-hanger  and  painter,  North  Adams;  d.  Sept. 
29,  1879. 

'Tower,  Henry  A.,  b.  Florida;  21,  M.;  butcher,  North  Adams; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  Aug.  11,  '62;  a  few  months  after  his 
return,  was  drafted,  but  rather  than  go  as  a  conscript,  he 
paid  his  exemption  fee;  in  the  fall  of  1863,  enlisted  in  the 
Fourth  Brigade  Band  and  so  followed  the  fortunes  of  the 
Sixth  Corps  from  the  Rapidan  to  Petersburg  and  thence 
to  the  Shenandoah  Valley ;  after  Winchester,  on  a  partial 
reorganization  of  the  Army,  he  was  discharged  O.  W.  D. 
and  returned  to  North  Adams  where  he  has  continued  to 
reside;  has  served  on  the  Board  of  Selectmen,  has  been 
Highway  Commissioner  and,  for  the  past  six  years,  has 
been  inspector  of  meats  and  provisions;  has  never  been 
sick  a  wqek  in  his  life  and,  in  1908,  is  one  of  the  four 

•survivors  of  the  twenty-four  men  who  served  in  the  Band 

of  the  Tenth  Regiment. 


COMPANY  A  347 

Viall,  Wm.  G.,  b.  Grafton;  24,  S.;  shoemaker,  Adams;  June 
21,  '61 ;  M.  O.  Aug.  11,  '62;  later  in  Fourth  Brigade  Band;, 
in  1908,  Supt.  shoe  factory,  North  Adams. 

Wheeler,  Addison  G.,  b.  Savoy;  20,  M.;  shoemaker,  Adams; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  Aug.  11,  '62;  later,  in  Fourth  Brigade 
Band;  dis.  Sept.  19,  '64;  in  1873,  North  Adams,  keeping 
a  meat  market ;  1908,  Windsor. 

Worth,  John  D.,  b.  Bavaria;  33,  M.;  cabinet  maker,  Adams; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  July  19,  '62,  disa.;  later,  re.  as  leader 
of  the  Band,  Third  Brig.,  Second  Div.,  6th  Corps;  in 
1873,  foreman,  pattern  department,  Walter  A.  Wood 
Machine  Co.,  Hoosick  Falls,  N.  Y. ;  Newell  gives  "  Winth;"' 
d.  Jan  1,  1888. 

COMPANY  A,  GREAT  BARRINGTON. 

Southern  Berkshire  was  early  alive  to  the  impending  struggle 
and  Governor  Andrew,  himself,  in  sending  his  Military 
Secretary,  Col.  A.  G.  Browne,  Jr.,  to  the  Governors  of  the 
several  New  England  States  was  hardly  more  alert  than 
were  these  farmers,  mechanics  and  professional  men  of  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  Commonwealth.  Newspapers  were 
read  with  the  utmost  interest,  every  possible  place  of  public 
assembly  was  thronged  and  the  Red,  White  and  Blue  was- 
in  evidence  as  never  before.  Sunday,  April  21st,  a  Great  Bar- 
rington  clergyman,  the  Rev.  Horace  Winslow,  in  the  midst 
of  his  afternoon  discourse,  confessed  that  his  mind  was  not  on 
the  sermon  he  was  reading  and,  dropping  that,  launched  out 
into  a  strain  of  impassioned  eloquence  on  the  needs  of  the 
hour. 

The  next  evening  there  was  a  large  gathering  before  the 
Berkshire  House  and  speeches  were  made  from  the  balcony 
by  George  R.  Ives,  Esq.,  and  others,  urging  all  to  be  ready 
to  help  the  country's  cause.  Wednesday  evening,  the  24th, 
citizens  of  Great  Barrington  and  nearby  towns  assembled  in 
the  town  hall,  irrespective  of  political  parties,  and  debated 
the  popular  needs  and  the  best  way  to  meet  them.  The  meet 
ing  was  presided  over  by  David  Leavitt  who  proclaimed 
himself  willing  to  contribute  his  means  and,  if  necessary,  his 
person,  to  the  holy  cause.  The  Hon.  Increase  Sumner, 
Chairman  of  Committee  on  Resolutions,  presented  a  set  of  the 
same,  of  a  most  patriotic  character  and  supported  them  in  a 
forcible  speech,  urging  all  patriots  to  be  up  and  doing.  In  a 
similar  vein  eloquent  speeches  were  made  by  several  others;. 


348  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

the  South  Egremont  band  furnished  music  and  the  Star 
Spangled  Banner  was  rendered  in  an  inspiring  manner. 
A  committee  of  thirteen  was  appointed  to  carry  out  the  pur 
pose  of  the  third  resolution,  viz,  the  raising  of  a  company  and 
the  securing  of  funds  to  equip  the  company  and  to  care  for 
families  thus  left  needy.  Papers  were  at  once  presented  and 
volunteers  began  to  put  down  their  names  amid  the  applause 
of  the  great  audience.  The  President  of  the  meeting  headed 
the  subscription  with  one  of  a  thousand  dollars  and  the  sum 
soon  amounted  to  nearly  four  thousand  dollars.  As  the 
recruits  were  added  from  day  to  day,  they  were  quartered 
in  Agricultural  Hall,  under  the  charge  of  Ralph  O.  Ives. 

By  Sunday,  May  5th,  the  company  had  grown  to  seventy 
members  and  on  this  day,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Winslow  gave  a 
patriotic  sermon  in  the  barracks,  all  present  joining  in  the 
doxology  at  closing.  On  the  7th,  the  ladies  of  the  town 
gathered  in  the  Congregational  church  to  take  action  towards 
supplying  the  wants  of  volunteers.  Monday,  the  13th,  came 
an  important  meeting  in  the  barracks  when  the  men  effected 
an  organization  electing  as  their  Captain,  Ralph  O.  Ives; 
First  Lieut.,  J.  L.  Bacon;  Second,  Henry  L.  Wilcox;  Third, 
A.  S.  Mansir;  Fourth,  F.  M.  Ives.  The  following  Sunday, 
the  19th,  the  company,  in  a  new  uniform  of  gray,  trimmed 
with  black,  marched  to  the  Congregational  church  and  heard 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Winslow  in  a  most  stirring  and  profitable  dis 
course.  The  grave  and  the  gay  of  life  are  inextricably  blended, 
for  on  the  27th  there  was  a  hop  at  the  company  quarters 
where  Great  Barrington  and  the  neighboring  towns  had 
gathered  "her  beauty  and  her  chivalry,"  though  the  most 
of  the  fair  partners  of  the  soldier  boys  were  from  the  factories 
where  had  been  woven  the  cloth  whence  came  the  uniforms 
of  the  company.  Amid  the  beautiful  decorations  of  evergreen 
and  flags,  with  music  by  Curtis's  band,  the  night  quickly  sped 
into  the  wee  small  hours. 

Tuesday,  May  28th,  is  ever  memorable  in  the  company  annals 
for  then  a  citizen  of  Great  Barrington  presented  the  boys 
with  a  stand  of  colors,  emblematic  of  her  regard,  and  sig 
nificant  of  the  new  life  about  to  be  essayed.  The  first  act  of 
the  day,  however,  was  to  arrange  the  list  of  lieutenants, 
since  the  government  did  not  allow  more  than  two.  The  new 
election  resulted  in  the  retention  of  the  Lieutenants  at  first 
selected,  though  not  without  opposition.  The  local  Bible 
Society  gave  each  man  a  Testament  and  each  mess  or  group 
of  men  a  Bible,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Richards  making  the  presenta- 


COMPANY  A  349 

tions,  followed  briefly  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Winslow.  Then  came 
gifts  of  cash  to  some  of  the  men  by  generous  citizens,  Sheffield 
giving  five  dollars  apiece  to  her  twelve  representatives  in  the 
company  and  promising  them  nine  dollars  a  month  in  addition 
to  government  pay.  The  Egremont  men,  six  in  number, 
fared  equally  well.  Michael  Finn  of  West  Stockbridge 
received  five  dollars  in  money  and  a  fine  Colt's  revolver. 
Then  followed  the  march  to  the  home  of  Mrs.  Artemas  Bige- 
low  who  was  to  present  the  flag.  Twenty-four  citizens, 
mounted  and  led  by  David  Leavitt,  Esq.,  escorted  the  com 
pany  to  the  residence  where  a  multitude  of  people  had 
assembled  by  a  platform,  erected  near  the  house.  The 
presentation  was  made  by  Samuel  B.  Sumner,  Esq.,  in  a 
particularly  eloquent  manner,  touching  upon  the  obligations 
of  the  men  to  defend  the  emblem  and  referring  most  aptly 
to  the  recent  death  of  Col.  Ellsworth  (N.  Y.  Fire  Zouaves) 
in  Alexandria,  exhorting  the  soldiers  to  "stand  gallantly  by 
the  colors  thus  confided  to  your  keeping."  The  response  of 
Captain  Ives,  in  accepting  the  flag,  was  brief  but  effective, 
arousing  emotion  in  many  listeners.  The  banner  itself  was 
a  fine  piece  of  silken  texture,  six  feet  by  three,  bordered  by  a 
golden  fringe.  The  staff  bore  a  silver  plate,  properly  engraved, 
topped  with  a  golden  ball  and  the  American  eagle,  with 
bullion  tassels  pendent. 

Later  all  of  the  soldiers  proceeded  to  the  Collins  House  to 
partake  of  a  bountiful  collation,  and  thence,  under  the  escort 
of  Dr.  Collins  marched  to  Mount  Petra  for  still  further  exer 
cises  of  a  patriotic  nature.  There  the  oath  of  fealty  was 
administered  by  Dr.  Collins;  all  kneeling  kissed  the  folds  of 
the  flag  and  afterwards  heard  some  inspiring  words  from 
Sergt.  D.  J.  Bishop,  who  later  was  to  be  the  regimental  color- 
bearer  for  many  a  month.  A  cannon  having  been  procured 
and  the  flag  run  up  to  the  top  of  the  pole,  a  salute  was  fired 
from  the  elevated  height  and  then  faces  were  again  turned 
towards  the  hotel  where  Dr.  Collins  once  more  served  the 
company  with  an  excellent  repast.  At  half  past  seven,  when 
the  men  were  comfortably  seated,  the  generous  host,  rising 
in  his  place  at  the  head  of  the  table,  bade  his  guests  help  them 
selves  to  the  limit  of  each  one's  taste  and  inclination,  an 
invitation  which  was  immediately  accepted  to  the  evident 
satisfaction  of  the  eaters  and  of  the  liberal  giver.  Dr.  Collins 
instead  of  speaking  for  himself  requested  the  Hon.  Samuel 
B.  Sumner  to  take  his  place  which  he  did,  though  not  before 
the  men  had  cheered  to  the  echo,  their  host  and  his  substitute. 


350  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

The  latter 's  remarks-  were  witty,  appropriate,  and  most 
heartily  received.  After  him  came  his  brother,  Charles  A. 
Sumner  from  California,  who  fully  sustained  the  reputation 
of  the  family  in  the  appositeness  of  his  remarks  and  his 
evident  devotion  to  the  cause  of  liberty  and  union.  At  the 
end  of  his  address,  the  boys  gave  him  three  cheers  and  a  tiger. 
Captain  Ives  was  called  up  by  the  host  of  the  evening,  and 
he  pledged  himself  to  do  all  in  his  power  to  promote  the 
comfort  of  his  men,  and  to  make  them  efficient  soldiers. 
A  song  was  then  sung  by  Michael  Finn,  and  Thomas  Pugh 
followed  with  "The  Sword  of  Bunker  Hill"  in  fine  voice  and 
spirit.  The  health  of  Mrs.  Bigelow,  the  donor  of  the  flag, 
was  drank  by  the  Company  with  three  times  three  cheers  at 
the  mention  of  her  name.  The  father  of  the  Captain  of  the 
Company,  Mr.  George  R.  Ives,  spoke  pertinently,  denouncing 
the  Rebellion  and  proclaiming  his  admiration  for  the  company 
itself.  The  evening's  exercises  ended  at  9.30  when  the  soldiers 
marched  back  to  their  barracks,  led  by  the  South  Egremont 
band  which  had  arrived  late,  but  in  time  for  a  supper  from 
Dr.  Collins. 

May  29th  witnessed  the  departure  of  the  company.  At 
10.30  a.  m.,  the  men  were  drawn  up  on  the  corner  of  Main 
and  Railroad  Streets.  Cheers  were  given  by  both  soldiers 
and  citizens,  and  then,  escorted  by  the  South  Egremont 
band  and  a  company  of  horsemen,  the  men  in  uniform  marched 
away,  accompanied  by  their  friends  as  far  as  Monterey, 
which  they  entered  with  flag  flying  and  drums  beating.  They 
were  hospitably  received  and  feasted  and  at  4.00  p.  m.,  after 
a  halt  of  two  hours,  they  started  for  Otis  Center,  not  afoot, 
as  they  came,  but  in  vehicles  which  the  generous  people  of 
Monterey  provided  for  this  purpose.  May  30th,  the  march  was 
continued  towards  West  field,  at  whose  four-mile  house  they 
were  met  by  a  company  of  fifty  horsemen  under  the  command 
of  Colonel  Asa  Barr  and  escorted  into  the  village  to  be  received 
by  a  large  and  enthusiastic  crowd  of  people.  Thursday  night 
was  spent  in  Foster's  hotel.  The  local  News  Letter  accorded 
to  the  men  unstinted  praise  for  their  character  and  appear 
ance.  Friday,  the  last  day  of  May  saw  the  company  safely 
in  Springfield  where  they  were  met  by  the  Horse  Guards  and 
two  companies,  already  in  camp,  and  escorted  to  Hampden 
Park.  After  their  march  of  sixty  miles,  their  parade  through 
the  streets  of  Springfield  was  highly  complimented.  At  the 
Park  they  were  welcomed  by  the  Rev.  F.  A.  Barton,  later  to 
be  the  regimental  chaplain,  to  whose  words  Captain  Ives 


COM PAX Y  A  351 

responded.    The  men,  seventy-nine  in  number  were  quartered 
in  a  building  to  the  south  of  the  large  hall. 

Tuesday,  June  4th,  the  Company  was  photographed  by 
Messrs.  Moore  Brothers  who  gave  to  each  man  a  photo  of 
Jeff.  Davis  that  they  might  be  able  to  recognize  him  on  sight. 
Monday,  June  10th,  two  men  were  drummed  out  of  camp  as 
deserters.  Both  were  from  Connecticut  and,  having  left  the 
week  before,  had  been  caught  in  Otis  and  brought  back  by 
the  Captain  on  Sunday.  With  closely  shaven  heads,  their 
arms  pinioned,  stripped  of  their  uniforms,  to  the  tune  of 
"Rogue's  March"  they  were  escorted  off  the  grounds  and 
permitted  to  depart.  June  12th,  each  member  of  the  Company 
received  a  dollar  as  spending  money  from  some  generous 
citizen  of  Great  Barrington.  June  21st,  came  the  muster-in 
and  the  Company  is  henceforth  to  be  known  as  "A"  of  the 
Tenth  Regiment,  Mass.  Volunteers. 

(For  full  explanation  of  abbreviations,  see  page  332.) 
COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

Ralph  O.  Ives,  b.  New  York  City;  22,  M.;  attorney,  Great 
Barrington;  June  14,  '61;  in  winter  of  '62-'63,  served  on 
staff  of  General  Wm.  H.  Emory,  in  Louisiana;  in  Sept. 
'63,  while  brigade  officer  of  the  day,  was  captured  by 
guerrillas  and  sent  to  Libby  prison,  Richmond;  dis.  Sept. 
19,  '64;  in  1873,  broker  in  Cal. ;  since  d. 

Willard  I.  Bishop,  Sept.  23,  '63;  wd.  eye,  Wilderness,  '64; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  bvt.  Major,  March  13,  '65;  in  1875, 
Agent,  Conn.  River  R.  R.,  Hatfield. 

FIRST     LIEUTENANTS 

James  M.  Bacon,  b.  Great  Barrington;  33,  — •;  printer,  Great 
Barrington;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Dec.  4,  '61,  disa;  d.  before 
1870. 

Flavel  Shurtleff,  (C.);  Dec.  5,  '61;  wd.  right  breast,  Malvern 
Hill;  Adjutant,  Oct.  '62;  prom.  Captain,  Co.  H. 

Willard  I.  Bishop,  (C),  Sept.  29,  '62;    prom.  Captain. 

Henry  A.  Brown,  (K),  Jan.  25,  '63;  detailed  Act.  Ass't.  Adj't. 
Gen'l.,  head-quarters,  Second  Brig.,  Third  Div.,  Sixth 
Army  Corps;  detailed,  May  16,  '64,  Act.  Aide,  Fourth 


352  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Brig.,  First  Div.,  Sixth  Corps;    M.  O.  July  1,  '64;     bvt. 
Captain,  Mar.  13,  '65;   in  1"909,  Delta,  Ohio. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS 

Henry  L.  Wilcox,  b.  Sheffield;  39,  M.;  carpenter,  Great 
Barrington;  res.  Oct.  7,  '61;  later  served  as  private  in 
57th  Mass.;  d.  Aug.  13,  '74,  Housatonic. 

Allen  S.  Mansir,  Oct.  7,  '61;  prom.  First  Lieut.,  June  21,  '62, 
Co.  H. 

James  Knox,  June  1,  '62;  dismissed,  Nov.  25,  '62;  disa. 
owing  to  dismissal  removed,  vide,  letter  W.  D.,  Feb.  15, 
1871;  k.  in  paper-mill,  West  Springfield,  Nov.  21,  1876. 

Nelson  H.  Gardner,  (K),  Sept.  29,  '62;  prom.  First  Lieut., 
Co.  G. 

Charles  H.  Knapp,  (I),  Nov.  26,  '62;  June  1,  '64,  trans,  to 
Command  of  Co.  C  and  as  such  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  bvt. 
First  Lieut,  and  Captain,  Mar.  13,  '65;  in  1909,  and  for 
nearly  forty  years,  engineer,  Fire  Dept.,  Holyoke. 

NON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS    AND    PRIVATES 

Andrews,  Robert  K.,  b.  Sheffield;    35,  M.;    mason,  Sheffield; 

June  14,  '61;   dis.  July  17,  '61,  disa. 
Ashman,  John,   b.   Sharon,   Conn.;    26,   S.;    collier,   Sharon; 

June  14,  '61,  cr.  Agawam;   re.  Dec.  21,  '63;   trans.  37th 

Mass.,  June  20,   '64;    trans.   20th  Mass.,  June   21,   '65; 

M.  'O.  July  16,  '65;    later  served  in  regular  army.     Also 

Ashmun. 
Banker,  Henry—       -;   23,  M.;   collier,  -        — ;  June  21,  '61; 

d.  of  wounds,  May  3,  '62,  Salem  Heights. 
Barber,   George  A.,    (Corp.),  b.   Butternuts,   N.  Y.;    23,   S.; 

carpenter,  New  Marlboro;    April   25,   '61;    wd.  left  leg, 

May   3,   '63,   Salem   Heights;    dis.   April  25,    '64,   disa.; 

after  the  war,  carpenter,  Winsted,  Conn. 
Barber,  Hubert  L.,  b.  New  Marlboro;    22,  S.;    collier,  New 

Marlboro;   May  1,  '61;   Corp.  May  17,  '62;   Sergt.  July  1, 

'63;    Com.  Sergt.  Mar.  1,  '64;    M.  O.  July  1,  '64;    later, 

farmei,  Southfield. 
Bartholomew,  Martin,  b.  Sheffield;    21,  S.;    collier,  Sheffield; 

June  21,  '61;   dis.  Jan.  22,  '64,  disa. 
Bazzell,   Varnum,    (Corp.),   b.   Lee;    28,   M.;    June   21,    '61; 


COMPANY  A  353 

Sergt.  May  31,  '62;    M.  O.  July  1,  '64;    d.  May  4,  '69; 
bur.  Center  Cem.,  Lee;    State  rolls  give  "Buzzell." 

Beach,  Melanchton  B.,  (Sergt.),  b.  West  Bloomfield,  N.  Y.; 
28,  S.;  weaver,  Great  Barrington;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  left 
ankle,  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill;  wd.  left  forearm,  May 
5,  '64,  Wilderness;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  later,  foreman, 
West  Meriden,  Conn. 

Bishop,  Daniel  J.,  (Sergt.),  b.  Cooperstown,  N.  Y.;  34,  M.; 
peddler,  Great  Barrington;  June  21,  '61;  was  color- 
sergt.  for  some  time;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  after  the  war 
in  Pa. 

Blakesley,  Charles,  b.  New  Hartford,  Conn.;  24,  M.;  collier, 
Tyringham;  June  21,  '61;  re.  cr.  Agawam,  Dec.  31,  '63; 
trans.  37th  Mass.,  June  20,  '64;  k.  April  6,  '65,  Sailors 
Creek,  Va. 

Briner,  Hiram,  (R),  dis.  Jan.  8,  '63,  disa.;   hosp.  N.  F.  R. 

Bristol,  Waterman  D.,  -  — ;  20,  S.;  clerk,  West  Stock- 
bridge;  June  21, '61;  M.  O.  July  1, '64;  1909,  Westfield. 

Cady,  Henry,  b.  Lee;  20,  S.;  baker,  Lee;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64;  in  1872,  living  in  New  Milford,  Conn. 

Cahill,  James,  b.  Greenfield;  19,  S.;  shoemaker,  Greenfield; 
June  14,  '61;  wd.  May  3,  '62,  Salem  Heights;  dis.  May 
19,  '64,  disa. 

Caldwell,  Noah  N.,  b.  Schenectady,  N.  Y.;  24,  S.;  mechanic, 
Springfield;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  June  4,  '64;  M.  O.  July  1, 
'64;  in  1907,  N.  S.  H.,  Togus,  Me.;  also  Noah  L. 

Cardney,  Frank,  b.  Olive,  N.  Y.;  21,  S.;  collier,  Sheffield; 
June  21,  '61;  re.  cr.  Agawam,  Dec.  21,  '63;  k.  May  12, 
'64,  Spottsylvania.  Also  Cadney  and  Cudney. 

Carlton,  George  W.,  -  — ;  20,  S.;  laborer,  Greenfield; 
June  14,  '61;  desert.  June  18,  '62,  also  said  to  have  been 
captured  by  guerrillas;  later  in  the  37th  Mass. 

Chadwick,  Russell  L.,  b.  Stockbridge;  28,  S.;  wood  chopper, 
Stockbridge;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness; 
absent  at  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Clapp,  Wm.  H.,  b.  North  Lee;  30,  M.;  collier,  Lee;  June  14, 
'61;  re.  cr.  Agawam,  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  Co.  D,  37th 
Mass.,  June  20,  '64. 

Clark,  Gardner  C.,  (R),  b.  Rutland;   20,  — ;   student, ; 

en.  Brightwood,  D.  C.,  Sept.  5,  '61;   dis.  Dec.  1,  '62,  for 


354  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS   INFANTRY 

appointment  as  Act.   Ass't.   Surg.;    as  physician,  prac 
ticed  in  Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y. 

Coddington,  Josiah,  b.  Falls  Village,  Conn.,  21,  — ;  scythe- 
maker,  Springfield;  June  14,  '61;  desert.  July  13,  '61. 
Also  Caddington. 

Colburn,  Charles  D.,  b.  Egremont;    25,  M.;    teamster,  Egre- 

mont;    June  14,  '61;    M.  O.  July   1,  '64. 
Cook,   George,   b.    Springfield;     19,   S.;    laborer,   Springfield; 

June  14,  '61;   trans.  Co.  G,  2d  U.  S.  Art'y.,  Nov.  21,  '62; 

k.  Cold  Harbor,  May  31,  '64;    W.  D.  Feb.  14,  '68.     Also 

George  D. 

Cormack,   James,   b.   Falls  Village,   Conn.;    20,   S.;    painter, 
— ;    June  14,  '61;    wd.  May  3,  '62,  Salem  Heights; 
k.  June  7,  '64,  Cold  Harbor.     Also  Cormick. 

Couch,  Alfred  F.,  (Sergt.),  b.  Tyringham;  20,  S.;  baker, 
Great  Barrington;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  May  3,  '64,  Salem 
Heights;  trans.  V.  R.  C.,  Feb.  2,  '64;  M.  O.  June  21,  '64, 
114  Co.  2nd  Batt.  V.  R.  C.;  in  1872;  baker,  Great 
Barrington. 

Cudney,  Frank,  vide,  Cardney. 

Cummings,  Lee,  b.  Sheffield;  27,  S.;  collier,  Sheffield;  June 
14/61;  re.  Dec.  21, '63;  wd.  in  the  thigh,  Wilderness, '64; 
trans.  37th  Mass.,  June  20,  '64;  trans.  June  21,  '65, 
20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  rep.  d.  1904. 

Cummings,  Owen,  b.  Ireland;  27,  M.;  butcher,  Great  Bar 
rington;  June  14,  '61;  served  entire  enlistment  in  the 
Commissary  department,  as  butcher;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
in  1872,  said  to  be  a  butcher  in  San  Francisco. 

Curtis,  Orrin,  b.  Sheffield;  24,  S.;  wood  chopper,  Sheffield; 
June  14,  '61;  desert.  July  18,  '61. 

Cushman,  Julius  A.,  b.  Stafford,  Conn. ;  36,  M. ;  laborer,  Ware ; 
June  14,  '61;  on  provost  guard  about  one  year  from 
spring  of  '63;  came  back  to  regiment  in  time  for  Grant's 
campaign  of  '64;  severely  wd.  June  3,  '64,  Cold  Harbor, 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  never  able  to  do  hard  work  afterwards, 
serving  for  the  most  part  as  a  watchman  in  the  Otis  Mills, 
Ware;  d.  Sept.  12,  '98. 

Cutting,  Orville  E.,  b.  Lee;  19,  S.;  collier,  Lee;  June  14,  '61; 
re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  wd.  hip,  Cold  Harbor;  trans.  Co.  C. 
37th  Mass.  June  20,  '64;  prom.  Sergt.;  trans.  20th  Mass., 
June  21,  '65;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65. 


COMPANY  A 


Daniels,  George   C.,    (alias    Henry  Clark  Osborn),    (Mus.),   b. 

Boston;     15,  S.;    -          — ,   Boston;    July  24,   '61;    re.   cr. 

Agawam,  Dec.  21,  '68;    desert.,  Mar.  16,  '6-1,  while  home 

on  furlough. 
Dawlev,    Franklin    J.,    b.    Lanesboro;     40,    S.;     collier,    Lee; 

June    14,    '61;    M.   O.   July    1,    '64;    in    1872,  plate  glass 

polisher,  Lenox  Furnace;    d.  Oct.   1.,   1906;    bur.  Center 

Cem.,  Lee.     Also  "Danlev." 


.1.    A.   (TSHMAN. 

Dempsey,    josiah   of   Springfield;  aged   20;  en.    June    14,    '61; 

desert. "July   18,  '61;    N.  F.  R. 
Dennis,  Edward,  b.  Great   Harrington;    21,  S.;    collier,  Great 

Harrington;    June   14,  '61;    dis.  Nov.  26,  '62,  disa. 
Dennis,   Lunian,  b.  Great    Harrington;     19,  S.;    collier.  Great 

Harrington;      June     14,     '61;      \vd.     leg,    Salem     Heights, 

May  3,  '68;    M.  O.  July   1,  '64. 
Donovan,  John,  b.  -         — ;    45,  M.;    tailor,  Lee;    July  24,  '61; 

Town  record  says,  "Honorably  discharged;"  he  appears 

to  have  been  a  deaf  mute  and,  being  a  tailor,  plied  his 

trade    while   the    Regiment    was   in    camp ;     returning   to 

Mass,  he  died  about  1804.      X.  F.  R. 

Fargo,  Albert  F.,  b.  Sandisfield;    20,  S.;    carpenter,  Monterey; 
'June    14,   '61;    M.  O.  July   1,   '64;    in   1907,  residing  285 

Shelton  Street,  Bridgeport,  Conn. 
Finn,  Michael,  b.  West  Stockbridge;    20,  S.;    wood  chopper, 

West  Stockbridge;    June  14,  '61;    dis.  Dec.   16,  '68,  disa. 


356  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

French,  Charles  P.,  b.  -  — ;  26,  M.;  wagon-maker,  West 
Stockbridge;  June  14,  '61;  re.  Dec.  22,  '63;  d.  as  corp. 
of  wds.  rec'd  May  6,  '64,  Wilderness. 

Fughery,  Charles,  b.  Ireland;  21,  S.;  laborer,  Great  Barring- 
ton;  June  14,  '61;  accidentally  wounded,  Feb.  '63,  in 
left  hand;  dis.  Mar.  12,  '63,  disa. 

Gates,  Charles  A.,  b.  Lee;  19,  S.;  wood  chopper,  Lee;  June 
14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  later,  Co.  C,  27th  Mass.;  dis. 
June  26,  '65,  close  of  the  war;  in  1872,  lumberman, 
Washington,  Kans.;  in  1908,  N.  S.  H.,  Hampton,  Va. 

Gilmore,  Charles  A.,  b.  Pittsfield;  19,  S.;  printer,  Great 
Barrington;  June  14,  '61;  trans.  Non-Com.  Staff  as 
Prin.  Mus.  June  5,  '63;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  during  his 
service  wrote  army  letters  to  Great  Barrington  Courier. 

Goddard,  Pliny  M.,  b.  —  — ;  22,  S.;  farmer,  Berlin;  June 
14,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  15,  '62,  disa. 

Goodrich,   John,   b.   Sheffield;    23,  — ;  — ,   Springfield; 

June    14,    '61;    desert.   July   4,    '61,   Independence   Day 

for  him. 
Haggerty,  Daniel,  b.  Ireland;    23,  S.;    wood  chopper,  Great 

Barrington;    June  14,  '61;    dis.  May  2,  '62,  disa. 

Hamilton,  Franklin  D.  b.  -  — ;  22,  S.;  teamster,  Green 
field;  June  17,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  25,  '62,  disa.;  later  in  Co. 
B,  28th  Mass.;  rep.  d.  1901. 

Hamilton,  Trafton,  (R),  b.  Pittsfield;  18,  S.;  farmer,  Green 
field;  Feb.  24,  '62;  trans.  Co.  C,  37th  Mass.;  dis.  Feb. 
23,  '65,  ex.  of  s;  1909,  Orange. 

Hart,  Davis,  b.  Sheffield;  28,  S.;  collier,  Sheffield;  re.  Dec. 
21,  '63;  d.  of  wds.  rec'd.  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania. 

Hart,   George   L.,   b.   Sheffield;     24,   S.;    collier,    Egremont; 

June  14,  '61;   re.  Dec.  21,  '63;   trans.  Co.  C,  37th  Mass., 

June  20,   '64;    trans.  20th  Mass.,  June  21,   '65;    M.  O. 

July  16,  '65. 
Harvey,  Charles  W.,  b.  Falls  Village,  Conn.;    19,—; -, 

Springfield;    June  14,  '61;    desert.  July  13,  '61. 

Hecox,  James;  21,  S.;  collier,  New  Marlboro;  June  21,  '61; 
re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  Co.  C,  37th  Mass.; 
trans.  20th  Mass.,  June  21,  '65;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65. 

Hewett,  Robert;  24,  S.;  collier,- Lee;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64;  later  in  V.  R.  C;  1909,  Lee. 


COMPANY  A  357 

Hines,  Marshall  A.,  b.  Lee;   24,  S.;   collier,  Lee;  June  14,  '61; 

Corp.  June  20,  '63;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  Dec.  27,  1897,  Lee. 
Hoag,    W.    D.,    b.    Sheffield;     24,    M.;     ,    Springfield; 

June  14,  '61;   desert.  July  13,  '61. 


L.  J.  KILLELEA,          SERG'T.  WM.  M.  STANARD,          C.  B.  SCUDDER. 

Holmes,  George  H.,  (Corp.),  24,  M.;  weaver,  Great  Barring- 
tion;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  June  14,  '63,  disa.;  d.  Sept.  4, 
1904,  New  Britain,  Conn. 

Ives,  Francis  M.,  (Sergt.),  b.  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.;  28,  S.;  clerk, 
Great  Barrington;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  Jan  13,  '63  for 
prom.  Second  Lieut.,  110th  N.  Y.  Inf'try;  N.  Y.  Record 
says,  "Date  of  rank,  Nov.  14,  '62;  date  of  Com.,  Dec.  9, 
'62;  res.  Feb.  4,  '63;"  Sergt.  Ives  was  a  brother  of 
Captain  Ives  of  Co.  A. 

Kelly,  Frederick;  35,  S.;  turner,  Deerfield;  June  14,  '61; 
dis.  Feb.  11,  '63,  disa.;  Also  Kalle. 

Kelly,  Michael,  b.  Ireland;  20,  S.;  forgeman,  Falls  Village, 
Conn.;  June  14,  '61;  d.  June  4,  '63,  Potomac  Creek 
Hosp.  Also  Kelley. 

Kernan,  Robert,  b.  Ireland;  32,  M.;  wood  chopper,  Lee; 
June  14,  '61;  dishonorably  dis.  June  20,  '63,  Gen'l.  Ct. 
martial.  Also  Keenan. 

Killelea,  Lawrence  J. ,  b.  Ireland;  18,  S. ;  stabler,  Great  Barring- 
ton,  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1909,  West 
Buxton,  Me. 

Lamb,  Charles  P.,  b.  Shelburne  Falls;  28,  M.;  stone-layer, 
Shelburne;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  rep.  d.  1905. 

Levy,  William,  b.  England;    20,  S.;    cook,  Great  Barrington; 


358  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

June  14,  '61;  trans,  gunboat  service,  Feb.  16,  '62;  did 
not  return  to  the  Regiment;  rep.  desert.  Aug.  7,  '62, 
Helena,  Ark.  Also  Levey. 

Luther,  Joseph  E.;  28,  — ;  -  — ,  Springfield;  June  14,  '61; 
dis.  July  10,  '61,  disa. 

McElroy,  John;  26,  S.;  forgeman,  Falls  Village,  Conn.; 
June  24,  '61;  desert,  as  Corp.,  July  23,  '61. 

McGee,  Hugh,  b.  Ireland;  26,  M.;  laborer,  Williamsburg; 
June  14,  '61;  re.  Feb.  20,  '64;  wd.  hand,  Wilderness; 
trans.  Co.  D,  37th  Mass.,  June  20,  '64;  dis.  Feb.  14,  '65, 
disa. 

McWilliams,  Edward,  b.  Belfast,  Ire.;  27,  S.;  laborer,  Spring 
field,;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Mallory,  Edward  J.,  b.  Norfolk,  Conn.;    25,  M.;    wd.   July   1, 
'K-'62,  Malvern  Hill;   dis.  Nov.  21,  '62,  disa;   in  1872,  farmer, 
Great  Barrington. 

Mansir,  Allen  S.,  (First  Sergt.),  b.  Tyringham;  29,  S.;  car 
penter,  Monterey;  June  14,  '61;  prom.  Second  Lieut. 

Markham,  Alfred  J.;  25,  — ;  -  — ,  Springfield;  June  14, 
'61;  dis.  Aug.  19,  '61,  disa. 

Markham,  Lafayette;  21,  S.;  butcher,  Great  Barrington; 
June  14,  '61;  re.  March  24,  '64;  trans.  Co.  C,  37th  Mass., 
June  20,  '64;  trans.  20th  Mass.,  June  21,  '65;  M.  O. 
July  16,  '65;  1909,  185  W.  Madison  St.,  Chicago. 

Merrill,  John  H.,  b.  Sandisfield;  34,  M.;  brickmaker,  Lee; 
June  14,  '61;  wd.  head,  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill;  dis. 
Jan.  26,  '63,  disa.;  later  in  Co.  D.,  57th  Mass.;  dis.  Oct. 
15,  '64,  disa.;  d.  May  2)],  '65;  bur.  Center  Cem.,  Lee. 

Millard,  Rufus  W.,  b.  Becket;  36,  M.;  machinist,  Springfield; 
June  14,  '61;  re.  Dec.  20,  '63;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  Co.  I, 
37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  as  Corp.,  20th  Mass.; 
M.  O.  July  16,  '65. 

Morrissey,  Edward,  b.  Springfield;  22,  S.;  stabler,  Spring 
field;  June  14,  '61;  re.  cr.  Agawam,  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans. 
June  20,  '64,  Co.  K,  37th  Mass. ;  dis.  June  21,  '65,  ex.  of  s. 

Newcomb,   David,   b.    Boston;     17,  — ;  — ,   Springfield; 

June  14,  '61;  dis.  July  21,  '61,  disa.;  later  in  Co.  D, 
19th  Mass.,  .served  three  years. 

Newton,  Isaac,  (R),  b.  Greenfield;  18,  S;  farmer,  Greenfield; 
Mar.  7,  '62;  dis.  May  3,  '62,  disa. 


COMPANY  A  ,859 

Newton,  Solomon  D.,  b.  Deerfield;  23,  S.;  machinist,  Green 
field;  Sept.  10,  '61;  trans.  37th  Mass.,  June  20,  '64; 
M.  O.  Jan.  9,  '65,  ex.  of  s;  1909,  Greenfield. 

Nickerson,  Mark  S.,  b.  Canaan  Falls,  Conn.;  25,  M.;  forge- 
man,  Falls  Village,  Conn.;  June  14,  '61;  Corp.  Jan.  1,  '60; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Nye,  Isaac  W.,  b.  Lee;  44,  — •;  -  — ,  Springfield;  June  14, 
'61;  dis.  July  22,  '61,  disa.  Also  Ney. 

Nye,  John  W.,  b.  Lee;  22,  S.;  wood  chopper,  Lee;  July  24, 
'61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '60;  trans,  as  First  Sergt.,  June  20~  '64, 
37th  Mass.;  prom.  Sergt.  Major;  trans.  June  21,  '65, 
20th  Mass.;  d.  Insane  Hosp.,  Northampton,  June  24,  '97. 

O'Brien,  Patrick,  b.  Ireland;  25,  — ;  — ,  Springfield; 

June  14,  '61;  Corp.  [an.  1,  '63;  wd.  leg,  Salem  Heights, 
May  3,  '62;  trans.  V.  R.  C.,  Feb.  2,  '64;  d.  before  1872, 
Northampton. 

Olds,  James,  (Corp.),  b.  Sheffield;  43,  M.;  carpenter,  Great 
Barrington;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  Feb.  13,  '63,  disa.;  d. 
S.  H.,  May  16,  '88. 

Peaseley,  Calvin,  b.  Holdcrncss,  N.  H.;  36,  M.;  collier, 
Great  Barrington;  June  14,  '61;  sun-struck  on  march 
from  Kalorama  to  Brightwood;  as  ambulance  driver, 
was  badly  injured  by  a  kick  from  his  horse ;  had  narrow 
escape  from  burning  hosp.;  dis.  Dec.  17,  '(H,  disa.;  in 
1872,  stage  driver.  West  Otis;  d.  April  27,  1900,  Otis. 

Pendleton,  George  R.,  b.   Egremont;    22,  S.;    harness-maker, 
•  Egremont;     June    14,    '61;     wd.    May,    '64,    Wilderness; 
M.  0.  July  1,  '64;   later  in  Co.  A.,  First  Hancocks  Veterans 
cr.  to  New  Jersey. 

Pennock,  Charles  L.,  b.  Sharon,  Conn.;  22,  S.;  wood  chopper, 
Sheffield;  June  14,  '01;  dis.  Feb.  12,  '63,  disa.;  in  Oct., 
'63,  en.  34th  Mass.;  trans.  June  14,  '65,  24th  Mass.; 
M.  O.  Jan  20,  '60;  in  1872,  farmer,  West  Reading,  Conn. 

Pervear,  Horace,  (R),  b.  Greenfield;  37,  M.;  ship  carpenter, 
Greenfield;  Feb.  24,  '02;  en.  in  Co.  D,  Feb.  24,  '02; 
dis.  Jan.  8,  '03,  disa.;  later  in  Co.  B,  28th  Mass.  Also 
Pevere  and  Purvere. 

Pervere,  Dwight  C.;  28,  S.;  wood  chopper,  Deerfield;  June 
14,  '61;  dis.  June  19,  '62,  disa.;  also  given,  "d.  June  22, 
'62,  WThite  House  Landing."  Also  Purvere. 

Pervere,    Rufus,    b    Deerfield;     21,  ,    Greenfield; 


360  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Sept.  10,  '61;  wd.  foot,  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania ; 
trans.  Co.  C,  37th  Mass.,  June  20,  '64;  dis.  June  21,  '65, 
ex.  of  s.  Also  Purvere. 

Pervere,  Russell  M.,  (R),  b.  Deerfield;  25,  S.;  farmer.  Green 
field;  Feb.  24,  '64;  re.  Dec.  21,  '64,  cr.  Agawam;  trans. 
June  20,  '64,  Co.  C,  37th  Mass,  though  the  rolls  bear  him 
as  missing  since  May,  '64;  d.  April  13,  '65,  Vicksburg, 
Miss.  Also  Purvere. 

Peters,  Charles  A.,  (Mus.),  b.  Italy;  23,  S.;  drummer,  Lee; 
June  14,  '61;  re.  Mar.  20,  '64,  cr.  Springfield;  trans. 
June  20,  '64,  Co.  C,  37th  Mass.;  dis.  May  16,  '65, 
disa.  His  real  name  was  Angelo  Petracchi  and,  after 
the  war,  returning  to  Italy,  died  there. 

Pinney,  John  W.,  b.  Great  Barrington;  28,  M.;  wood  chopper, 
Lee;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  June  8,  '62,  disa.;  d.  Aug.  25, 
'98,  Lee. 

Powers,  Nathaniel  N.,  (Corp.),  b.  Worcester;  26,  S.;  shoe 
maker,  Worcester;  wd.  Fair  Oaks,  May  31,  '62,  and 
taken  prisoner;  dis.  Feb.  17,  '63,  disa. 

Prouty,  Wm.  Henry,  b.  Northampton;  22,  S.;  farmer  North 
ampton;  June  24,  '61;  dis.  Sept.  21,  '63,  disa.;  later 
Co.  C,  57th  Mass.;  M.  O.  with  regiment,  Aug.  9,  '65. 

Pugh,  Thomas,  (Corp.),  b.  Wales,  Great  Britain;  32,  S.; 
weaver,  Great  Barrington;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  leg,  May 
3,  '63,  Salem  Heights;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  rep.  d.  1898. 

Rice,  Luther;  26,  — ;  farmer,  Springfield;  Sept.  10,  '61; 
d.  typhoid  fever,  U.  S.  Gen'l.  Hosp.,  New  York,  June  15, 
'62;  bur.  Cypress  Hill  Cemetery,  New  York;  funeral 
services,  Greenfield,  June  23,  '62,  sermon  by  Methodist 
minister,  Rev.  Nelson  Stutson. 

Ring,  Joseph;  21,  S.;  machinist,  Springfield;  June  14,  '61; 
re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans. 
June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65. 

Ryan,  Kenan,  also  Kerran,  b.  Lee;  22,  S.;  clerk,  Lee;  June 
14,  '61;  Corp.  May  31,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  Holyoke; 
bur.  Catholic  Cem.,  Lee. 

Sanders,  John,  b.  Wilbraham;  23,  S.;  laborer,  Wilbraham; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  Jan.  1,  '63,  disa.;  Roll  of  Honor,  p.  22, 
says  "  d.  Feb.  7,  '64,  and  bur.  New  York."  Also  Saunders. 

Scudder,  Chester  B.,  b.  Roxbury,  Conn.;  18,  S.;  carpenter, 
Monterey;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  shoulder,  May  12,  '64, 
Spottsylvania;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  manufactured  cigars 


COMPANY  A  361 

in  111.  three  years;  returning  was  Capt.  of  the  Guards, 
U.  S.  Treasury  Dept.,  Government  Mill,  Dalton,  several 
years;  elected  to  Legislature,  '94  and  '95;  foreman  in 
paper  mill  since;  Past  Commander,  Post  197,  G.  A.  R., 
Pittsfield;  in  1908,  Dalton;  his  age,  at  enlistment  was 
really  16  years. 

Short,  William,  b.  Ware;  21,  S.;  laborer,  Lowell;  June  14, 
'61;  dis.  Feb.  2,  '64,  disa.;  d.  New  York,  Feb.  10,  '64. 

Shultes,    George,    b.    Monterey;     20,    S.;     collier,    Monterey; 

June   14,   '61;    M.   O.   July    1,   '64;    in   1908,   Hartsville. 

Also  Shelters. 
Smith,  Peter,  b.  Kinderhook,  N.  Y.;   32,  S.;   collier,  Sheffield; 

June   14,   '61;    wd.  Malvern  Hill,  July   1,   '62;    re.  Dec. 

21,    '63;    trans.   June   20,    '64,   37th   Mass.;    trans.   June 

21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;    M.  O.  July  16,  '65. 

Stanard,  William  M.,  b.  New  Marlboro;    24,  S.;    carpenter, 

New  Marlboro;    April  24,  '61;    Corp.  May  31,  '63;    wd. 

side,  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill;    Sergt.  July  23,  '62;  wd. 

May  3,  '63,  Salem  Heights;   M.  O.  July  1,  '64;   for  many 

years  a  mechanic,  Mill  River;  d.  Mar.  6,  1908,  Pittsfield; 

bur.  Tyringham. 
Stedman,  Orrin;    18,  — ;    -         — ,  Springfield;    June  14,  '61; 

desert.  July  8,  '61.    Also  Steadman. 
Stevenson,  Thomas  B.;   21,  S.;   carpenter,  New  Haven,  Conn.; 

June  14,  '61;  desert.  Aug.  17,  '62,  when  on  detached  duty 

with  a  battery. 
Suraner,  Alonzo,  b.  Van  Deusenville;    19,  S.;    laborer,  Great 

Harrington;    June   14,   '61;    dis.  Jan.    18,   '63,   disa.;    d. 

before  1872.    Also  Surrener. 
Taylor,  Jarvis,  b.  Monterey;    20,  S.;    wood  chopper,  Canaan, 

Me.;  June  14,  '61;   d.  Oct.  23,  '62,  Cherry  Run  Ford,  Va. 

Titus,  Lucian  M.,  b.  Deerfield;  28,  S.;  butcher,  Prescott; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  28,  '61,  disa. 

Tubbs,  John  B.,  (Sergt.),  b.  Sheffield;  21,  S.;  lumberman, 
Sheffield;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1872, 
teamster,  Mill  River;  1909,  Clayton. 

Tucker,  George  G.,  b.  Dalton;  22,  S.;  teamster,  Dalton; 
June  14,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill;  dis.  Sept. 
29,  '62,  disa.;  resides  in  Dalton,  1909. 

Turner,  Alvin;  26,  S.;  forgeman,  Forge  Village,  Conn.; 
June  14,  '61;  desert.  July  23,  '61. 


362  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Wallace,  William,  b.  Pittsfield;  26,  S.;  merchant,  Pittsfield; 
Mar.  28,  '62;  desert.  June  5,  '62,  Savage  Station,  Va. 
What  degeneracy  in  a  William  Wallace! 

Warner,  George,  (Wagoner),  b.  Great  Barrington;  32,  S.; 
teamster,  Great  Barrington;  re.  Jan.  20,  '64,  cr.  Hat- 
field;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21, 
'65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  1909,  W.  Stockbridge. 

Welch,  Thomas,  b.  Great  Barrington;  19,  S.;  wagon  maker, 
Great  Barrington;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

WTheeler,  William,  b.  Lee;  27,  M.;  collier,  Lee;  June  14,  '61; 
for  some  time  served  with  Telegraph  Corps;  M.  O. 
July  16,  '64;  1909,  Pittsfield. 

Williams,  Anias;  23,  S.;  R.  stabler,  Sandisfield;  N.  F. 
A  suggestive  given  name. 

Williams,  Austin  G.;  27,  — ;  farmer,  Sandisfield;  June  21, 
'61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  cr.  Agawam;  trans.  June  20,  '64, 
37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O. 
July  16,  '65;  1909,  Central  Falls,  R.  I. 

Woodward,  Henry,  b.  Lee;  31,  M.;  laborer,  Lee;  June 
14,  '61;  desert.  April  4,  '62;  while  with  the  regiment,  he 
was  a  wagon  driver;  in  April  he  was  sent  to  Washington 
to  turn  in  his  outfit  to  the  Quartermaster's  department; 
instead  of  returning,  he  remained  with  his  wagon  and 
was  a  teamster  for  the  government  during  the  war,  hence 
his  record;  charge  of  desertion  removed  by  letter  from 
W.  D.,  April  29,  '96. 

COMPANY  B,  NORTHERN  BERKSHIRE 
JOHNSON  GRAYS 

The  patriotic  fervor  of  southern  Berkshire  was  rivaled  by 
that  of  the  northern  part  of  the  county.  The  town  of  Adams 
with  its  many  industries  was  a  centre  of  vigorous,  active  and 
thoughtful  humanity.  The  weekly  press  had  long  kept  its 
readers  posted  with  the  doings  of  the  country  at  large,  and  the 
impending  dangers  of  national  disruption  had  no  more  appre 
ciative  observers  than  the  mechanics  and  farmers  of  this 
northwest  portion  of  Massachusetts.  The  populous  village 
of  North  Adams  for  several  years  had  maintained  a  military 
company  known  as  the  "Graylock  Infantry"  which  served 
as  a  nucleus  for  the  would-be  soldiers  of  the  vicinity.  Early 
in  the  month  of  April,  the  local  paper,  Hoosac  Valley  News 
and  Transcript,  earnestlv  appealed  to  the  citizens  of  North 
Adams  to  subscribe  funds  for  the  arraying  and  equipping  for 


COMPANY  B  3(>3 

active  service  of  this  local  organization.  Three  thousand 
dollars  was  the  sum  thought  necessary,  but  so  generously 
did  the  people  respond  that  almost  twice  that  sum  was  con 
tributed,  viz,  $5,634.00.  This  large  amount  represented  the 
gifts  of  one  hundred  and  eighteen  firms  and  individuals,  the 
sums  given  ranging  from  those  of  $500.00  from  wealthy  donors, 
down  to  the  $1.00  tribute  of  the  laboring  man. 

That  there  might  be  a  new  and  clean  start,  fresh  enlistment 
papers  were  made  out  and  on  Thursday,  April  18th,  a  recruit 
ing  office  was  opened  and  in  one  week  eighty-three  names 
were  on  the  roll  and  the  men  themselves  were  drilling  three 
times  a  week.  The  Phcenix  engine  house  was  occupied  as  an 
armory,  until  the  Company  was  ordered  into  camp.  Men 
having  families  as  a  rule  boarded  at  home,  but  it  soon  became 
necessary  for  the  town  to  come  to  the  relief  of  families  whose 
heads  were  earning  nothing,  having  devoted  themselves  to 
warlike  preparation.  Arrangements  were  accordingly  made 
with  Mrs.  Quackenbush  who  kept  a  large  boarding  house  on 
River  street  for  the  Company  to  eat  with  her,  so  for  several 
weeks  the  men  marched  the  intervening  distance  of  a  quarter 
of  a  mile,  three  times  a  day,  for  their  meals.  Cloth  for  new 
uniforms  was  procured  and  Chapin  and  Briggs  began  the 
making  of  them.  Consisting  of  jacket  and  pantaloons  of 
cadet  gray,  the  new  soldiers  bore  a  striking  resemblance  to 
the  Confederates  whom  they  were  soon  to  meet. 

April  29th,  the  citizens  of  Adams  in  their  town-meeting 
voted  that  a  committee  of  seven  be  appointed  who  should 
use  the  funds  of  the  town  not  to  exceed  twenty  thousand 
dollars  for  the  aid  of  volunteers  and  their  families.  The 
committee  included  Sylvander  Johnson,  J.  B.  Jackson,  H. 
Cartwright,  A.  W.  Richardson,  Wm.  C.  Plunkett,  D.  J.  Dean 
and  J.  N.  Dunham.  The  meeting,  after  such  liberal  provision 
for  the  wants  of  needy  patriots,  adjourned  with  ringing 
cheers  for  the  Union  and  the  Stars  and  Stripes.  The  next 
day  came  the  election  of  Company  officers  at  a  meeting, 
presided  over  by  Major  Wm.  W.  Brown,  wherein  Elisha 
Smart  was  made  Captain;  Samuel  C.  Traver,  First  Lieut.; 
L.  W.  Goddard,  J.  W.  Mallory  and  Wm.  E.  Briggs  became 
Second,  Third  and  Fourth  Lieuts.,  respectively.  By  a  vote 
of  the  Company  its  name  was  changed  to  "Johnson  Grays  "  in 
honor  of  Mr.  Sylvander  Johnson  who  had  presided  at  the 
meeting  where  so  much  was  done  towards  perfecting  the 
organization  and  inspiriting  the  men  while  waiting  for  the 
call  into  active  service. 


364  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

A  step  nearer  active  soldier  life  was  taken,  May  4th,  when 
the  engine  house  was  given  up  for  a  camp,  north  of  the  old 
brick  factory  of  Arnold  and  Ray.  A  large  crowd  assembled 
to  witness  the  change,  the  colors  were  run  up,  speeches  were 
made  by  Gen.  A.  A.  Richmond  and  M.  F.  Adams,  cannon 
were  fired,  and  the  soldiers  drilled  and  stationed  guards. 
The  camp  was  named  for  the  same  gentleman,  Sylvander 
Johnson,  for  whom  the  Company  was  already  called.  Ample 
provision  was  made  for  the  comfort  of  the  men  in  every 
respect,  though  care  was  taken  that  all  sorts  of  ardent  spirits 
should  be  kept  out.  Seemingly  every  one  capable  of  helping 
was  on  the  alert  to  do  something  for  the  men  and  the  red 
flannel  shirts  which  were  given  them  were  made  by  the 
ladies  in  Burlingame  and  Ray's  hall.  Meanwhile  the  newly 
enlisted  men  were  delighting  the  eyes  of  the  villagers  by  their 
frequent  marches  through  the  streets  and  their  exhibitions 
of  progress  in  drill. 

June  7th  came  the  new  uniforms  and  the  sending  of  the  arms 
of  the  men  to  Boston,  ostensibly  for  inspection,  really  for  the 
arming  of  certain  regiments  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  State. 
The  day  following,  responding  to  an  invitation  from  South 
Adams,  in  later  days  to  be  known  as  Adams,  the  Company 
marched  to  that  village,  six  miles  away.  When  within  one 
mile  of  the  place  the  Company  was  met  by  a  delegation  of 
citizens,  three  hundred  strong,  under  the  lead  of  Gen.  Wm. 
C.  Plunkett,  who  with  martial  music  accompanied  the  visitors 
into  the  village.  The  place  was  thronged  with  residents  and 
those  who  had  come  in  for  the  demonstration.  After  march 
ing  through  the  principal  streets,  the  procession  proceeded  to 
the  Methodist  church  where  the  soldiers  were  welcomed  by 
General  Plunkett  and  most  plentifully  feasted  by  the  ladies. 
After  dinner  came  speeches  by  the  Rev.  Messrs.  E.  T.  Hunt 
and  John  Tatlock.  Others  as  J.  N.  Dunham,  Hon.  E.  F. 
Jenks  and  Dwight  Cole  followed,  while  Captain  Smart  spoke 
eloquently  for  his  men.  As  a  crowning  expression  of  enthusi 
asm  it  was  voted  that  South  Adams  would  give  the  Company 
a  dinner*  on  its  return  from  the  war  and  measures  were  taken 
at  once  to  secure  funds  for  the  purpose.  After  an  exhibition 
drill  and  another  march  through  the  streets,  the  Company 
took  the  cars  for  the  camp  in  North  Adams. 

Nor  were  the  spiritual  interests  of  the  soldiers  neglected, 

*The  return  dinner  was  never  given.  Only  a  scant  remnant  came 
back  to  whom  "vacant  chairs"  would  have  been  anything  but  an 
appetizer.  It  was  a  promise  better  broken  than  kept. 


COMPANY  B  365 

since  on  Sunday,  June  9th,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sanford  in  the 
Baptist  church  gave  the  men  an  excellent  sermon.  To  the 
singing  of  "America"  by  the  choir  the  Company  marched 
away  to  repeat  the  exercises  in  the  afternoon  at  the  Methodist 
church,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Jut  kins  preaching.  Every  day  seemed 
to  have  some  new  incident,  for  on  the  10th  on  returning  from 
a  march  up  to  the  Beaver  mill,  the  Company  was  presented 
with  a  fine  gilt-edged  Bible  by  Mrs.  O.  Arnold,  the  Captain 
receiving  it  in  the  name  of  his  followers.  The  evening  of  the 
same  day  was  noteworthy  for  the  supper  given  the  Company 
by  Mr.  Sylvander  Johnson  at  his  residence,  where  Messrs. 
Rogers  and  Keyes  sang  "The  Star  Spangled  Banner,"  Mr. 
Charles  Williams  spoke  in  behalf  of  the  host  and  Mrs.  Johnson 
presented  each  man  with  a  towel.  June  12th,  the  ladies  of 
the  town  gave  the  men  a  collation  on  the  lot  of  Charles  O. 
Hall  and  on  the  same  afternoon  came  the  order  from  Governor 
Andrew  for  the  "Grays"  to  go  into  camp  on  Hampden  Park, 
Springfield,  June  14th. 

There  was  still  one  more  day  for  feasting  and  speaking. 
The  ladies  on  Church  Hill  improved  the  opportunity,  spread 
their  tables  in  front  of  the  Congregational  church  and  fed 
the  men  bountifully.  Then  came  an  address  by  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Sanford  as  he  presented  to  each  man  a  handkerchief, 
havelock,  Testament  and  a  bag  filled  with  pins,  needles  and 
other  necessaries  for  individual  use.  The  clergyman's  remarks 
were  particulariy  appropriate  and  feeling,  as  he  passed  out 
the  gifts,  each  Testament  having  the  soldier's  name  written 
on  the  fly-leaf.  Soon  after,  similar  gifts  of  Bibles  and  Testa 
ments  were  received  from  the  Berkshire  Bible  Society,  through 
its  president,  Walter  Laflin  of  Pittsfield,  which  were  also 
distributed.  The  last  speaker  was  the  Hon.  Henry  L.  Dawes, 
in  subsequent  years,  to  be  the  long  time  Senator  from  Massa 
chusetts  in  Congress,  who  forcefully  addressed  the  men  and 
concluded  his  remarks  with  the  presentation  of  two  stands 
of  colors  and  a  blanket  from  the  widow  of  Gen.  A.  A.  Rich 
mond,  the  articles  being  the  personal  property  of  the  General. 

Friday,  June  14th,  was  the  last  day  for  the  Company  in  North 
Adams  and  a  vast  array  of  people  gathered  to  see  the  boys 
off.  Ninety-four  in  number  and  headed  by  Hodges'  band, 
the  soldiers  made  their  final  appearance,  took  their  seats  in 
the  cars  and  were  given  a  tumultuous  send-off.  A  similar 
reception  awaited  them  in  South  Adams,  and  Cheshire.  In 
Pittsfield  the  men  debarked  and  marched  through  the  streets 
and  at  8.00  p.  m.  were  off  again  for  Springfield,  where  they 


366  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

were  received  by  the  six  companies  already  there,  and  escorted 
to  their  barracks  on  the  Park. 

(For  full  explanation  of  abbreviations  see  page  332.) 
COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

Elisha  Smart,  b.  Stamford,  Vt.;  37,  M.;  carpenter,  Adams; 
June  14,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  had  served  in 
the  regular  army,  2nd  U.  S.  Dragoons;  two  and  a  half 
years  in  Florida  War,  finished  enlistment  in  Fourth 
Artillery;  afterwards  had  been  active  in  the  militia. 

Samuel  C.  Traver,  June  1,  '62;  cashiered,  Nov.  25,  '62;  letter 
Adj't.  Gen'l's  Office,  Washington,  Dec.  10,  '62;  d.  Hy- 
more,  Hyde  Co.,  South  Dakota,  1907. 

William  Streeter,  (H);  Nov.  26,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  bvt. 
Major,  Mar.  13,  '65;  in  1875,  machinist  and  bank-lock 
manufacturer,  Rochester,  N.  Y. ;  in  1908,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

FIRST   LIEUTENANTS 

Samuel  C.  Traver,  b.  Dutchess  Co.,  N.  Y.;  24,  M.;  merchant, 
North  Adams;  June  14,  '61;  prom.  Captain. 

David  W.  Wells;  June  1,  '62;  disa.  in  retreat  from  Harrison's 
Landing,  by  loaded  ammunition  wagon  running  over 
right  foot;  some  time  in  Chesapeake  hosp.;  came  back 
to  Reg't.  at  Drownsville,  Md.,  and  again  at  New  Balti 
more,  in  both  cases,  unable  to  march,  whereupon  he  res. 
and  was  dis.,  Nov.  28,  '62;  from  '63  to  '75,  Kansas  City, 
Mo.;  manager  of  Santa  Fe  Stage  Line;  in  1875,  moved 
to  Chicago;  member,  Geo.  H.  Thomas  Post  5,  G.  A.  R., 
and  Illinois  Commandery,  Loyal  Legion;  d.  Mar.  16,  1908. 

Edwin  B.  Bartlett;  Nov.  26,  '62;  k.  May  18,  '64,  Spottsylvania. 

Wm.  H.  Cousens;  May  22,  '64;  trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th 
Mass.;  wd.  July  12,  '64,  Fort  Stevens,  D.  C.;  M.  O.  as 
supernumerary,  Nov.  26,  '64;  in  1869,  lumberman,  Adams. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS 

Lewis  W.  Goddard,  b.  Newfane,  Vt.;    40,  M.;    cutter,  North 

Adams;  res.  Nov.  19,  '61;   d.  S.  H.,  Wisconsin,  1900. 
David  W.  Wells;    Nov.  20,  '61;    prom.  First  Lieut. 


COMPANY  B  367 

*  Napoleon  P.  A.  Blais;  June  21,  '62;  d.  typhoid  fever,  Harri 
son's  Landing,  Va.,  July.  31,  '62;  Monthly  Report,  No.  8, 
says  "July  30;"  bur.  North  Adams;  body  removed  to 
Canada,  1866. 

Edwin  B.  Bartlett,  Sept.  29,  '62;  (F),  prom.  First  Lieut. 
George  C.  Kaulbach,  (G);  Nov.  26,  '62;  detailed  for  balloon 
service,  Mar.  2,  '63,  under  Prof.  Carlincourt  Lowe;  Mar. 
13,  was  placed  in  charge  of  the  balloons  with  instructions 
to  keep  them  in  the  air  and  to  report  all  observations  from 
his  altitude  of  2,000  feet;  he  made  twenty-six  ascensions 
in  one  day ;  during  retrograde  movement  from  Fredericks- 
burg  to  Fairfax  Station,  the  balloons  were  with  the  rear 
guard  and  the  Lieutenant  was  able  to  make  important 
reports  to  the  commanding  General;  June  16,  under 
orders,  he  sent  the  balloons  to  Washington  and  reported  to 
his  Reg't. ;  at  the  Angle,  May  12,  '64,  was  in  command  of 
Co.  E;  M.  O.July  1, '64;  bvt.  First  Lieut,  and  Capt.,  Mar. 
13,  '65;  in  1875,  Sandy  Creek,  Oswego  Co.,  N.  Y.;  in 
1908,  Pittsburg,  Pa. 

NON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS    AND    PRIVATES 

Amidon,  Lewis  F.,  b.  North  Adams;  24,  S.;  carder,  North 
Adams;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  right  leg,  Fair  Oaks,  May  31, 
'62;  dis.  Oct.  31,  '62,  disa.;  later  in  First  Mass. 'Cav. 
till  close  of  war;  wd.  Wilderness,  captured  and  held  in 
Richmond,  four  months;  1909,  No.  Adams. 

Atwood,  John  E.,  b.  North  Adams  ;  21,  S.;  carpenter,  North 
Adams;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  ankle,  Fair  Oaks;  Corp.,  Dec. 
26,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  policeman  and  building  mover, 
North  Adams;  d.  Oct.  3,  1907.  He  was  one  of  the  Massa 
chusetts  Color  Guard,  when  Lincoln  delivered  his  famous 
address  at  the  dedication  of  the  Gettysburg  Cemetery; 
the  other  man  from  the  10th  was  W.  W.  Mason  of  Co.  K. 

Berry,  John;  aged  19;  June  21,  '61;  desert.  Aug.  11,  '61;  not 
found  on  State  House  rolls. 

Blais,  Napoleon  P.  A.,  (First  Sergt.),  b.  Canada;  27,  M.; 
carpenter,  North  Adams;  June  14,  '61;  prom.  Second 
Lieut. 

Blinn,  Nathan  O.,  (Corp.),  b.  Pittsfield;  27,  M.;  carpenter, 
North  Adams;  June  14,  '61;  trans,  gunboat  service,  Feb. 
17,  '62;  dis.  April  20,  '63,  disa.;  rep.  d.  1872. 

Blossom,   Henry  G.,  b.   Woodstock,  Vt. ;    21,   S.;    teamster, 


368  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

North  Adams;  June  14,  '61;  Corp.,  Aug.  20,  '63;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64;  later  in  Hancock's  Veteran  Reserve,  Co.  C, 
4th'Reg't.;  prom.  Sergt.  therein,  Jan  15,  '66;  in  1869, 
farmer,  North  Adams.  Also  "Blassom." 

Blossom,  James  W.  ,b.  Rutland,  Vt. ;    19,  S. ;   teamster,  North 

Adams;   June  14,  '61;   re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Longmeadow; 

trans.    June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  20,  '65,  20th 

Mass.     Also  "Blassom." 
Bolster,   Geo.   W.,   b.   North  Adams;    21,   S.;    baker,   North 

Adams;   June   21,    '61;  dis.   Oct.   9,    '61,   disa. 

Boyle,  John,  (R) ;    28,  — ;    -         — ,  Brightwood,  D.  C.;   Nov. 

16,  '61;   dis.  Mar.  26,  '63,  disa. 
Briggs,  George  C.,   (Corp.),  b.  North  Adams;    18,  S.;    clerk, 

North  Adams;   June  14,  '61;   trans.  V.  R.  C.,  Jan.  6,  '64; 

dis.  June  21,  '64,  disa.;  in  1906,  lived  in  New  York  State. 

Briggs,  Wm.  £.,  b.  North  Adams;  34,  M.;  teamster,  North 
Adams;  June  14,  '61;  First  Sergt.  from  Sergt.,  Jan.  1,  '63; 
wd.  hand,  Wilderness;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  N.  S.  H., 
Togus,  Me.,  Dec.  4,  1893. 

Brooks,  Levi  W.,  b.  Northampton;  22,  S. ;  .teamster,  North 
Adams;  June  14,  '61;  k.  Fair  Oaks,  May  31,  '62. 

Brown,  Wm.  H.,  b.  Pittsfield;  30,  S.;  merchant,  North 
Adams;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  Feb.  23,  '63,  disa;  Past  Com 
mander,  Dep't.  No.  Dakota,  G.  A.  R.;  1908,  Grand 
Forks,  No.  Dak. 

Burnap,  Edward  C.,  b.  Marlow,  N.  H.;  20,  M.;  clerk,  North 
Adams;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  right  hand,  while  on  picket, 
July  4,  '62;  dis.  Aug.  20,  '62,  disa.;  later  served  in  8th 
N.  H.  Inft'y.;  dis.  Oct.  28,  '65,  Vicksburg,  Miss.;  d. 
Sept.  1,  1883. 

Burnham,  Frederick;  20,  S.;  painter,  Holyoke;  June  21,  '61; 
en.  Co.  I;  trans,  to  "B,"  Aug.  6,  '62;  M.  O.  as  Mus., 
July  1,  '64. 

Caneda,  Philo,  b.  Readsboro,  Vt.;  20,  S.;  clerk,  North  Adams; 
d.  Sept.  5,  '62. 

Carle,  Thomas,  (R),  b.  Buckland;  24,  S.;  operative,  Colrain; 
Aug.  29,  '62;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Buckland;  trans.  June 
20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O. 
July  16,  '65;  dropped  from  rolls  of  N.  S.  H.,  Dayton, 
Ohio,  1880. 

Carpenter,   George,    (R),  b.   Savoy;    21,   S.;    farmer,   Savoy; 


Aug.   29,   '61;    wd.  leg,   Fair  Oaks;    trans.  June  21,   '64, 

37th  Mass.;    dis.  June  21,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 
Cavanaugh,  James  H.,  b.  North  Adams;   20,  S. ;  clerk,  Adams; 

June  14,  '61;    trans.  V.  R.  C.,  Mar.  21,  '63;    also  found, 

"Oct.  27,  '63;"  since  1863,  clerk,  Treasury  Dept.,  Wash 
ington,  D.  C. 
Charles,  John,  b.   North  Adams;     19,   S.;    teamster,   Adams; 

June  14,  '61;   M.  O.  July  1,  '64;   in  1908,   in  Government 

employ. 
Cheesbro,  Alfred;     19,   S.;    teamster,   Adams;    July  24,   '61; 

not  mustered,  left  Reg't.  at  Springfield. 
Clegg,    Hiram,    25,    S.;    weaver,   Adams;     July   24,    '61;    not 

mustered,  left  Reg't.  at  Medford.     Also  "Jerome." 
Cole,  Joseph  W.,  b.  England;    27,  S.;    carder,  Adams;    June 

21,  '61;    dis.  Mar.  2,  '63,  disa.;    later  served  in  Co.  C,  3rd 

Vt.    Inft'y.;    wd.    knee,   April   2nd,    '65,    Petersburg;    d. 

Mar.  6,   '92,  Adams;    from  family  data,  his  age  was  35 

at  enlistment. 
Cooper,  Ferris  A.,  (R),  b.  New  York  City;    19,  S.;  bookkeeper, 

Adams;    Aug.  .29,  '61;    trans.  June  21,   '64,  37th  Mass.; 

dis.  Aug.  23,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;    in  1869,  bookkeeper,  Cincin 
nati,  Ohio;   d.  1890,  St.  Loius,  Mo.,  bank  teller. 
Cotton,  Simon  B.,  b.  Pittsfield,  Vt.;   36,  S.;  tinsmith,  Adams; 

June  14,  '61;    M.  O.  July  1,  '64;    later  served  in  Co.  D, 

61st   Mass.;    borne  on   S'tate   House   rolls   as   Simeon   B. 

Colton;    d.  Feb.  17,  1870,  North  Adams. 
Cousens,   Wm.   H.,   b.    Egremont;    27,   S.;    spinner,   Adams; 

June  14,  '61;    Sergt.,  Aug.  9,  '62;   re.  Dec.  21,  '63;   prom. 

First  Lieut.,  May  22,  '64;   also  found  as  Cousins;    d.  Mar. 

1905,  Detroit,  Mich. 
Cumminsky,  James,  b.  France;    31,  M.;    shoemaker,  Adams; 

June  14,  '61;    desert.  Aug.  11,  '62. 
Darby,    Wm.     F.,    b.    Williamstown ;      26,    S;     clerk,    North 

Adams;   June  21,  '61;    Commissary  Sergt.,  May,  '62. 
Deon,  Major,  b.  Canada;    21,  S.;   carder,  North  Adams;   June 

14,  '61;    k.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill. 
Dwyer,  James;    20,  S.;    carder,  North  Adams;    June  14,  '61; 

left  Reg't.,  having  been  claimed  by  another  organization; 

en.  as  Henry  C.  Osborne. 
Eldridge,  Simeon    N.,    (Sergt.),  b.  Chatham,  N.  Y. ;    22,  S.; 

painter,  North  Adams;  June  14,  '61;  prom.  Second  Lieut. 

(E). 


370  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTKY 

Estee,  Sidney  T.,  (R),  b.  Salem,  N.  Y.;   20,  M.; ,  Shel- 

burne;  Sept.  10,  '61;  wd.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  dis. 
Sept.  18,  '62,  disa.;  later,  in  Co.  H,  27th  Mass.;  dis. 
June  15,  '65,  O.  W.  D.;  borne  there  as  Estes;  in  1869, 
machinist,  Colrain. 


LIEUT.   D.  W.  WELLS,  LIEUT.  W.   F.  DARBY 

Fuller,  Hiland  H.,  b.  Hart  well  ville,  Vt.;  21,  S.;  teamster, 
North  Adams;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  as  Corp.  July  1,  '64; 
in  1869,  farmer,  Hartwell ville,  Vt.;  1908,  farmer,  Roches 
ter,  N.  Y. 

Fulton,  Alexander  W.,  b.  on  board  ship,  Wingrave,  Atlantic 
ocean,  of  Scotch  parents;  21,  S.;  shoemaker,  North 
Adams;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1907,  retired 
shoe  manufacturer,  North  Adams;  in  Legislature,  1886; 
is  now  a  member  of  the  City  Council,  Chairman  of  Com. 
on  State  Aid,  Soldiers'  Relief  and  Burial. 

Gaffney,  John,  b.  North  Adams;  19,  S. ;  carver,  North  Adams; 
June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th 
Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65; 
d.  1884,  North  Adams. 

Gage,  Frederick  W.,  b.  Bennington,  Vt.;  20,  S.;  clerk,  North 
Adams;  June  21,  '61;  trans.  Signal  Corps,  Sept.  11,  '63; 
re.  Feb.  21,  '64;  dis.  Aug.  23,  '65;  dead. 

Galligan,  Peter,  b.  Ireland;  23,  S.;  mason,  North  Adams; 
June  14,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  wd.  May  4,  '64,  Wilder 
ness;  trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65, 


COMPANY  B  371 

20th  Mass.;   M.  O.  July  16,  '65;   in  1869,  laborer,  North 
Adams;   in  1908,  North  Adams. 

Green,  Levi  R.,  b.  Adams;  24,  S.;  teamster,  North  Adams; 
June  14,  '61;  wd.  July  3,  '63,  Gettysburg  and  at  the 
Wilderness,  May  5,  '64;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  21, 
'64,  37th  Mass. ;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass. ;  M.  O.  Aug. 
12,  '65,  ex.  of  s.;  in  1869,  farmer,  Williamstown ;  d.  1906. 

Hall,  Alfred,  b.  North  Adams;  24,  M.;  printer,  North  Adams; 
June  14,  '61;  desert.  May  6,  '64;  d.  1895,  Detroit,  Mich. 

Hannigan,  James  George,  b.  England;  35,  — ;  -  — ,  Spring 
field;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  peddler, 
South  Boston;  d.  Mar.  26,  1896. 

Hanson,  George,  b.  New  Bedford;  28,  S.;  machinist,  North 
Adams;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  dis. 
Dec.  5,  '62,  for  Com.  in  9th  N.  H.  Inft'y. 

Harrington,  Wm.  H.;   26,  M.;    teamster,  North  Adams;  June 

14,  '61;   re.  Jan.  20,  '64,  cr.  Adams;   trans.  June  21,  '64, 

37th  Mass.;   trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;    M.  O.  July 

16,  '65;   in  1908,  North  Adams. 
Harris,  Henry  K.;   24,  M.;  teamster,  North  Adams;   June  14, 

'61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1909,  Wanconda,  111. 
Harwood,  Orrin  S.;    24,  M.;    teamster,  North  Adams;    June 

14,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Savoy;  k.  May  5,  '64,  Wilder 
ness. 
Haskins,   Adelbert   A.,   b.    North   Adams;     21,    M.;    molder, 

North  Adams;  June  14,  '61;   wd.  hand,  May. 31,  '62,  Fair 

Oaks,  and  shoulder,  Malvern  Hill;   trans.  V.  R.  C.,  Sept. 

1,  '63;   dis.  June  21,  '64;  in  1869,  marble  business,  South 

Adams;    1909,  No.  Adams. 
Hazlett,  John;    37,  M.;    shoemaker,  North  Adams;    June  14, 

'61;  dis.  Mar.  26,  '63,  disa.;  d.  April  28,  1894. 
Hazlett,  William,   b.   Scotland;    35,   M.;    shoemaker,   North 

Adams;    June  14,  '61;    M.  O.  Chief  Bugler,  July  1,  '64; 

in  1869,  shoemaker,  North  Adams;  d.  Mar.  19/1888. 
Herman,  John;    26,  S.;   weaver,  North  Adams;   June  14,  '61; 

re.  Jan.   20,   '64,  cr.  Adams;    trans.  June  21,   '64,   37th 

Mass.;    dis.  Dec.  8,  '64,  disa. 
Hickox,  Stephen  W.,  19,  M.;    clerk,  North  Adams;    June  14, 

'61;    k.  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness. 
Hill,  Simon  B.;    20,  S.;    baggage  master,  Kent,  Conn.;    Aug. 

29,  '61;    dis.  Sept.  27,  '62,  disa. 


372  Tin:  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Hoffmaster,  Henry,  (Corp.);    26,  M.;    weaver,  North  Adams; 

June  14,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  15,  '62,  disa. ;  d.  N.  S.  H.,  Dayton, 

Ohio,  June  27,  1899. 

Holdridge,  George  F.,  b.  North 
Adams;  24,  — ;  — ,  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  lost  but 
one  day  of  duty  during  entire 
term  of  service;  M.  O.  Corp., 
July  1,  '64;  in  1909,  farmer, 
Brimfield. 


Hosmer,  Jesse  B.,  b.  Boston;  25, 
M.;  farmer,  Springfield;  Sept. 
6,  '61;  ever  on  duty  and 
in  Maryland  campaign,  '62, 
marched  barefoot,  7  weeks; 
trans.  Sept.  1,  '63,  V.  R.  C., 
12th  Reg't.;  dis.  Sept.  6,'  64, 
ex.  of  s. ;  in  1875,  residing  in 
Springfield;  dead. 

Houghtailing,  Christopher  G.,  (R),  b.  Sandy  Lake,  N.  Y. ;  22, 
— ;  mechanic,  Colrain;  Sept.  2,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63; 
wd.  right  thigh,  May  5,  Wilderness;  trans.  June  21,  '64, 
37th  Mass.;  trans.  j"une  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July 
16,  '65;  in  1869,  mechanic,  Colrain;  1908,  South  Hadley 
Falls. 

Hubbard,  Charles  H.;  21,  S.;  carpenter,  North  Adams;  June 
14,  '61;  M.  O.  as  First  Sergt.,  July  1,  '64;  in  1908,  Pitts- 
field. 

Hubbard,  George  S.;  29,  M.;  bootmaker,  North  Adams; 
June  14,  '61;  not  mustered. 

Hunt,  Elisha;  21,  S. ;  teamster,  North  Adams;  June  14,  '61; 
dis.  Sept.  26,  '62,  disa.;  1908,  Williamstown. 

Hunt,  Russell  F.,  b.  Hawley;  25,  S.;  teamster,  North  Adams; 
June  14,  '61;  had  fought  in  many  battles,  wd.  twice 
before  he  was  k.  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness. 

Jeffers,  Charles,  b.  Williamstown;  21,  M.;  teamster,  North 
Adams;  wd.  right  arm,  Fair  Oaks;  desert.,  Aug.  11,  '62, 
according  to  State  House  rolls;  C.  J.  says  he  was  trans, 
to  llth  N.  Y.  Cav.,  Sept.  12,  '62;  in  1869,  machinist, 
Battle  Creek,  Mich. 

Jenkins,  Rosser,  (R) ;  28,  S.;  miner,  Adams;  Aug.  23,  '62; 
re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Agawam;  captured  May  12,  '64, 


COMPANY  B  373 

Spottsylvania,  held  in  Andersonville,  five  months,  thence 
sent  to  Florence,  South  Carolina,  whence  he  went  north, 
Dec.  12,  '64;  in  absence,  was  trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th 
Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65; 
in  1869,  mason,  North  Adams;  also  found  "Jankins." 

Jewett,  Charles  E.,  (Sergt.),  b.  South  Deerfield;  20,  S.; 
machinist,  Deerfield;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
in  1869,  mechanic,  South  Deerfield ;  1909,  E.  Whately. 

Jones,  Charles  H.;  24,  M.;  carpenter,  Williamstown ;  June 
14,  '61;  dis.  from  hosp.  June  21,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 

Jones,  William,  (Mus.);  13,  S;  -  — ,  Springfield,  June  14, 
'61;  N.  F.  R. 

Joy,  Edward  S.,  b.  South  Adams;  24,  M.;  painter,  Pittsfield; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  July  23,  '62,  disa. ;  had  suffered  from 
typhoid  fever,  sick  a  year  after  return  home;  served  a 
year's  enlistment  in  61st  Mass.,  becoming  Principal  Mus.; 
M.  O.  June  4,  '65,  ex.  of  s. ;  in  1869,  painter,  Independence, 
Iowa;  d.  Mar.  19,  1908. 

Kimball,   Stephen   B.,   b.    Bennington,   Vt.;     22,   M.;    baker, 

North  Adams;  June  14,  '61;   dis.  Nov.  8,  '62,  disa.;  later 

served  in   3rd  Mass.   Heavy  Artillery;    in    1869,   baker, 

North 'Adams;    d.  July  2,  1905. 
Knapp,    Charles    I.,    (Wagoner);     27,    S.;     teamster,    North 

Adams;   June  14,  '61;    M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 
Lanfair,    Rodolphus   W.,   b.   Clarksburg;     21,   M.;    teamster, 

North  Adams;    June   14,   '61;    dis.   Aug.    12,    '61,   disa.; 

later,  Co.  D,  61st  Mass. ;  in  1869,  carpenter,  North  Adams; 

1905,  North  Adams.     Also  Langfair. 

Larrabee,  John  H.;  21,  M.;  teamster,  North  Adams;  June  14, 
'61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Leary,  Jeremiah;  21,  M.;  teamster,  North  Adams;  June  14, 
T61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Long,  George;  21,  M.;  cooper,  North  Adams;  June  14,  '61; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

McArthur,  James,  (R) ;  18,  S.;  shoemaker,  Adams;  Jan.  4, 
'64;  trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65, 
20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  was  detailed  in  Brigade 
band. 

Maginley,  Thomas;  22,  M.;  teamster,  North  Adams;  June 
14,  '61;  wd.  ankle,  Fair  Oaks;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr. 
Colrain;  trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  wd.  right 


374  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

shoulder,   Sept.    19,   '64,  Winchester;    trans.    105th  Co., 

2nd  Batt.,  V.  R.  C.;   was  also  in  20th  Mass.,  whence  he 

was  dis.  Sept.  4,  '65,  Philadelphia;    from  Fairneld,  Pa., 

T.   M.  writes,   Feb.   11,   1908,  "I  am  totally  blind  and 

have  been  for  nearly  five  years,  but  I  am  as  happy  as 

ever. — Tom." 
Mallory,  John  Wesley,  (Sergt.),  b.  Union  Village,  N.  Y.;    34, 

M'.;    carpenter,  North  Adams;     June   14,   '61;     k.  July 

1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill. 

Maynard,    Ethan   E.,   b.    Savoy;     22,   M.;    teamster,    North 
'  Adams;  June  14,  '61;  M.  6.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  farmer, 

Plainfield;   d.  1900,  Adams. 
Millett,  Samuel,  (R) ;    43,  M.;    laborer,  North  Adams;    Aug. 

14,  '62;    d.  Mar.  25,  '63,  Falmouth,  Va. 
Millis.  Charles  H.;    26,  M.;    mason,  North  Adams;    June  14, 

'61;  wd.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  d.  Sept.  21,  '62,  from  wds. 
Moon,  John;    36,  M.;    dresser,  North  Adams;    June  14,  '61; 

dis.  Aug.  2,  '62,  disa.;   d.  Jan.,  1905,  North  Adams. 
Nichols,  Charles  S.,  b.  North  Adams;   printer,  North  Adams; 

June  14,  '61;    dis.  April  15,  '62,  disa.;    in  '64  served  in 

8th  Mass.;    in   1869,   calico  printer,   North  Adams;    d. 

1883,  Homerville,  Ga. 
Osborne,  Henry  C.,  vide.  Dwyer. 
Perkins,  Wm.  H.,  b.  South  Adams;  25,  M.;  teamster,  Adams; 

June  14,  '61;   dis.  Dec.  25,  '62,  disa.;  later  in  First  N.  Y. 

Light  Artillery,  Battery  A;  in  1872,  Supt.  cheese  factory, 

South  Adams";    d.  Aug.  16,  1901,  Cheshire. 
Perry,  Alexander;    21,  S.;   shoemaker,  Adams;   June  14,  '61; 

M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 
Perry,   John;     19,    M.;    shoemaker,   Adams;    June    14,    '61; 

desert.  Dec.  — ,  '62. 
Perry,  Peter;    28,  — ;   -         — ,  Springfield;   June  14,  '61;    ab. 

at  M.  O.  of  Reg't.;   in  1878,  May  2,  dis.  to  June  20,  '64, 

O.  W.  D. 
Pettit,  Robert  C.;   21,  M.;   painter,  Adams;  June  14,  '61;   re. 

Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Agawam;  trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.; 

trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;    M.  O.  July  16,  '65;   in 

1908,  Manchester,  N.  H. 
Pike,  Charles  N.,  b.  North  Adams;    20,  S.;    hostler,  Adams; 

June  14,  '61;    at  Harrison's  Landing,  July,  '62,  detailed 

to    drive    private    carriage    for    General    McClellan    and 

thereafter  enjoyed  the  unique  distinction  of  being  driver 


COMPANY  B 


J.  A.  SHERMAN, 
WM.  H.  BROWN, 


R.  C.  PETTIT, 


C.  N.  PIKE, 

T.  J.   MAGINLEY 


for  Burnside,  Hooker,  Meade  and  Grant,  serving  in  this 
capacity  till  end  of  enlistment;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  later 
was  in  Christian  Commission  for  a  while,  was  engineer  in 
train  yard  at  Burkesville  Jc.,  Va.,  and  again  had  the 
private  carriage  of  the  commanding  general  till  the  end 
of  the  war,  not  reaching  home  till  the  fall  of  '65;  in  1909, 
contractor  and  builder,  North  Adams. 

Pike,  John  W. :  21,  M.;  teamster.  Adams;  June  14,  '61;  wd. 
thigh,  June  4,  '64,  Cold  Harbor;  M.  O.  July  1  '64-  rep 
d.  1903. 

Portell,  Patrick,  b.  Ireland;  20,  M.;  carder,  Adams;  June 
14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  June,  '66,  en.  regular  army 
and  died  the  next  year  in  Little  Rock,  Ark. 

Reilly,  John;  21,  M.;  teamster,  Adams;  wd.  Salem  Heights, 
May  3,  '63,  also  in  leg.  Wilderness,  May,  '64;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64;  d.  about  1904,  Adams. 


376  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Rice,  Wilson  W.;  21,  M.;  teamster,  Adams;  June  14,  '61; 
trans.  April  12,  '63,  12th  U.  S.  Infantry. 

Roberts,  Albert,  b.  Cooperstown,  N.  Y.;  19,  M.;  lamp  maker, 
Adams;  June  14,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks. 

Robinson,  John  C.,  b.  North  Adams;  21,  M.;  June  14,  '61; 
dis.  Aug.  27,  '62,  for  Com.  First  Lieut.,  37th  Mass;  later 
Captain  and  bvt.  Major;  in  1873,  printer,  San  Francisco, 
Cal. ;  in  1907,  Lorena,  Idaho. 

Rouse,  Ashbel  W.,  b.  Chesterfield,  N.  H.;  34,  M.;  dresser, 
Adams;  June  14,  '61;  Corp.  April  1,  '62;  Sergt.,  July  1, 
'62;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass. ; 
trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in 
1869,  carpenter,  North  Adams;  d.  Sept.  24,  1885,  Wil- 
liamstown. 

Sandford,  Merritt  S.,  b.   Readsboro,  Vt.;    20,  S.;    teamster, 

Adams;   June  14,  '61;   re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Longmeadow; 

trans,  as  Corp.,  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.;   trans.  June  21, 

'65,  20th  Mass.;    M.  O.  July  16,  '65;    rep.  d.  1905  in  the 

West. 
Savage,  Richard,  b.  West  Stockbridge;    18,  M.;  -    —,  Adams; 

June  14,  '61;   dis  Dec.  31,  '62,  disa.;  later  1st  Mass.  Cav.; 

prom.  Corp.  and  Sergt.;   wd.  May  16,  July  28,  and  Sept. 

16,    '64;    in    1869,   machinist,   North  Adams;    d.   about 

1888,  Adams. 

Shaftoe,  William,  b.  Paterson,  N.  J. ;     38,  M. ;  spinner,  Adams; 

June  14,  '61;    dis.  as  Sergt.,  Aug.   12,  '61;    later  served 

adventurous    enlistments    in   the    31st    and    57th    Mass. 

regiments;    in   1873,  overseer,  in  cotton  mill,   Holyoke; 

in  1908,  Fall  River,  85  years  old. 
Sheldon,  James  W.;   21,  S.;  mason,  Adams;  June  14,  '61;  re. 

Jan.   20,    '64;    trans.   June   21,    '64,   37th   Mass.;    trans. 

June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;    M.  O.  July  16,  '65;    d.  Jan.  3, 

1889,  North  Adams. 

Sherman,  Edward  E.;  19,  S.;  teamster,  Adams;  June  14,  '61; 
d.  Oct.  14,  '61,  Columbia  Hosp.,  D.  C.;  bur.  in  Savoy, 
his  old  home. 

Sherman,  George  H.,  b.  New  Bedford;  21,  S. ;  teamster, 
Adams;  June  14,  '61;  Corp.,  Mar.  22,  ''62;  Sergt.,  Aprii 
11,  '63;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  later  declined  Com.  as  Second 
Lieut.,  61st  Mass.;  in  1869,  brass  molder,  Stamford, 
Conn.;  in  1908,  Yonkers,  N.  Y. 

Sherman,  Joshua  A.,  (R),  b.  Savoy;    21,  M.;   farmer,  Boston; 


COMPANY  B  377 

Oct.  29,  '61;  wd.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks,  was  hit  simul 
taneously  in  left  leg  and  right  ankle;  dis.  Dec.  23,  '62, 
disa.,  Alexandria,  Va.;  has  resided  in  Shelburne  Falls, 
Illinois,  Stamford,  Conn.,  Paterson,  N.  J.,  Adams  and 
Savoy  where  he  was  Postmaster;  for  a  year  had  charge 
of  the  George  Junior  Republic  for  Boys  in  Litchfield, 
Conn.;  in  1907,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Savoy  Centre. 

Silkworth,  Melvin;  24,  S.;  tailor,  Adams;  June  14,  '61;  dis. 
Aug.  3,  '62;  letter,  War  Dep't.,  Dec.  28,  1906;  d.  Dec. 
16,  1907,  Carthage,  N.  Y. 

Sinotte,  John;  31,  S.;  miller,  Adams;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64. 

Slatterly,  William;  24,  S.;  teamster,  Adams;  June  14,  '61; 
desert.  June  20,  '63. 

Smith,  Warren  M.;  21,  S.;  carder,  Adams;  June  14,  '61;  re. 
Jan.  20,  '64;  trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans. 
June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in  1909, 
No.  Adams. 

Stafford,  John  W.,  (R) ;  22,  — ;  -  — ,  Clarksburg;  July  15, 
'62;  desert.  June  14,  '63;  the  same  name  is  borne  as 
desert.  Co.  G,  34th  Mass. 

Stillings,  Nicholas;  .34,  S.;  gun  maker,  Adams;  June  14,  '61; 
dis.  May  18,  '62,  disa.;  dead. 

Towle,  John  H.,  b.  Windsor;  21,  S.;  farmer,  Savoy;  June 
14,  '61;  wd.  left  thigh,  July  1,  Malvern  Hill;  captured 
and  sent  to  Richmond;  exchanged  July  25,  '62;  dis. 
Dec.  29,  '62,  disa.;  in  1872,  shoemaker,  North  Adams; 
in  1908,  retired,  North  Adams. 

Van  Valkenburgh,  Charles;    20,  S.;    miller,  Adams;    June  14, 
'61;    re.  Dec.  21,  '63;    trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.; 
trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;    M.  O.  July  16,  '65;    d. 
Mar.,  1905;  dropped  from  rolls,  N.  S.  H.,  Dayton,  Ohio, 
1890. 

Walker,    Ephraim;    30,   S.;  — ,   Adams;    June    14,    '61; 

left  Reg't.,  Springfield;    N.  F.  R. 

Walker,  Francis;  26,  M.;  teamster,  Adams;  June  14,  '61; 
wd.  hand,  May  3,  '63,  Salem  Heights;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63, 
cr.  Longmeadow;  trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans. 
June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  rep.  d.  1904. 

Walker,  John  H.;  25,  M.;  teamster,  Williamstown ;  June  14, 
'61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Longmeadow;  wd.  groin,  May 
12,  '64;  trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21, 


378  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

'65,  20th  Mass.;    M.  O.  July  16,  '65;    as  his  name  does 

not  appear  on  rolls  of  the   20th  he  was  probably  dis. 

from  hosp. 
Wallace,  James  W.,  (R) ;    22,  M.;   laborer,  Colrain;   Aug.  29, 

'62;   M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 
Wallace,   John,    (R),   b.   Colrain;     25,   M.;    laborer,   Colrain; 

Aug.  29,  '62;   wd.  right  arm,  Fredericksburg;   M.  O.  July 

1,  '64;   in  1869,  farmer,  South  Halifax,  Vt. 
Wells,  David  W.,  (Sergt.),  b.  Pittsfield;    23,  S.;   bookkeeper, 

Adams;    June   14,   '61;    prom.  Second  Lieut. 
Wells,  Sereno  W.;    26,  M.;    spinner,  Adams;    June   14,  '61; 

desert.  Aug.  11,  '63;    d.;   bur.  North  Adams. 
Wilbur,  Jeremiah;    24,  M.;    teamster,  Adams;    June  14,  '61; 

dis.  Aug.  8,  '61,  disa. 
Wiley,    Cincinnatus   C.,  b.  Monroe;    21,  M.;    shingle  maker, 

Adams;    June  14,  '61;    Corp.,  Oct.  17,  '62;    wd.  May  5, 

'64,  Wilderness;    M.  O.  July  1,  '64;   in  1869,  farmer  and 

lumberer,  North  Adams;  in  1908,  hotel  and  lumber  man, 

North  Dakota. 
Wiley,  Silas;    36,  M.;    shingle  maker,    Adams;     June  14,  '61; 

k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks. 
Williams,  Samuel  P.;    21,  — ;    -         — ,  Springfield;    June  21, 

'61;   in  hosp.  dep't.  entire  term  of  service;   M.  O.  July  1, 

'64;   in  1875,  Springfield. 
Wilsey,  Buel  G.;    20,  S.;    weaver,  Adams;    June  14,  '61;    k. 

July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill. 
Yaw,    Wallace,    (R),    b.    Florida;     34,    S.;    teamster,    North 

Adams;    Aug.  29,   '61;    d.  Knight  General  Hosp.,  New 

Haven,  Conn.,  July  15,  '63.     Also  "York." 

COMPANY  C,  NORTHAMPTON 

For  many  years,  Northampton  had  been  the  headquarters 
of  one  of  the  oldest  companies  in  the  active  militia  of  the 
Commonwealth.  Chartered  June  20,  1801,  Company  C  was 
one  day  more  than  sixty  years  old  when  mustered  into  the 
service  of  the  United  States.  When  the  call  came,  the  com 
pany  was  under  the  command  of  Captain  Wm.  R.  Marsh 
who  was  to  be  the  first  Major  of  the  Regiment.  It  was  a 
happy  coincidence  that  the  new  organization  should  bear  the 
same  numeral  as  the  old  militia  regiment  and  Company  C 
retained  its  long  time  letter  and,  being  the  very  first  company 


COMPANY  C  379 

in  Hampshire  county  to  volunteer,  it  naturally  drew  to  itself 
the  best  of  the  young  patriots  of  that  part  of  the  State. 

On  the  evening  of  April  18th,  when  other  sons  of  Massachu 
setts  were  resting  in  Philadelphia,  preparatory  to  the  famous 
march  through  Baltimore,  the  first  meeting  of  Company  C 
was  called  in  the  armory.  So  large  was  the  attendance,  it 
was  found  necessary,  after  organizing,  to  adjourn  to  the 
town  hall.  Wm.  B.  Hale  had  been  chosen  chairman  and  Dr. 
C.  N.  Chamberlain,  Secretary,  before  leaving  the  armory, 
and  timely  remarks  had  been  made  by  Captain  Marsh,  D.  G. 
Littlefield,  Dr.  Chamberlain,  Dr.  Brown  of  Williamsburg  and 
others.  After  reaching  the  town  hall,  Erastus  Hopkins, 
Justin  Thayer,  R.  R.  Mayers,  James  Ellsworth  and  D.  G. 
Littlefield  were  made  a  committee  to  solicit  funds  for  the 
arming  and  equipping  of  the  soldiers  who  should  go  from 
Northampton.  Erastus  Hopkins  who  was  to  furnish  a  Lieut. 
Colonel  of  a  later  regiment  (31st)  in  the  person  of  his  son, 
W.  S.  B.,  was  called  upon  and  responded  in  a  fervent  speech, 
pertinent  to  the  time  and  place.  Dr.  Harvey  E.  Brown  was 
again  called  upon  and  again  spoke  eloquently.  The  son  of  Col. 
Harvey  E.  Brown  of  the  regular  army,  his  remarks  were  all 
the  more  appreciated,  vowing  as  he  did  to  give  his  services 
to  the  Government.  The  doctor  kept  his  word  for  in  the 
following  June  he  became  Ass't.  Surgeon  of  the  70th  N.  Y. 
and,  later,  Surgeon  in  the  regular  army,  remaining  through 
the  war  and  attaining  the  rank  of  Major.  He  died  Aug.  20, 
1889.  The  meeting  resulted  in  about  forty  names  upon  the 
enlistment  roll. 

Military  meetings  were  quite  the  order  of  the  day  or  evening 
and  Friday  night,  the  26th,  Rev.  Mr.  Eddy  was  present,  and 
gave  a  patriotic  talk.  Northampton  pulpits  resounded  with 
sentiments  of  patriotism,  and  great  audiences  assembled  to 
hear  the  several  ministers  of  the  town.  Nor  were  the  ladies 
backward  in  their  efforts  to  aid,  since  seventy-five  of  them 
met  in  the  town  hall  as  early  as  the  24th  of  April  and  volun 
teered  to  make  the  uniforms  for  the  soldiers.  Miss  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  the  Hon.  Samuel  F.  Lyman  presided  and  it  was 
resolved  to  proceed  to  work  as  soon  as  material  should  arrive. 
The  very  afternoon  of  this  meeting  the  cloth  arrived  and  they 
went  to  work  at  once,  cutting  out  and  making  the  garments. 
Some  of  the  women  carried  their  work  home  with  them,  others 
sewed  in  the  town  hall.  Poets  too,  were  in  evidence,  and  May 
3,  William  Allen,  son  of  a  soldier  who  had  fought  at  Ben- 
nington,  addressed  several  stanzas,  written  in  the  measure  of 


380  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

the  Star  Spangled  Banner,  to  Captain  Marsh,  the  aged  writer 
regretting  that  almost  four  score  years  prevented  his  aiding 
the  cause  in  a  more  effective  manner. 

May  9th,  Company  C  with  full  ranks  undertook  a  little 
practical  military  labor  in  the  shape  of  a  march  to  Williams- 
burg,  seven  miles  to  the  northwest,  where  the  men  encamped 
over  night  and  returned  the  next  day.  The  route  was  through 
a  populous  region  and  every  one  was  out  to  see  the  soldiers. 
At  Florence,  they  were  met  by  a  delegation  of  citizens 
headed  by  Messrs.  Parsons  and  Littlefield,  having  with  them 
the  Florence  brass  band  to  whose  rhythmic  notes  the  march 
was  made  to  the  common,  near  the  residence  of  Mr.  I.  S. 
Parsons  where  the  villagers  had  prepared  a  bountiful  collation. 
D.  G.  Littlefield  in  glowing  words  welcomed  the  soldiers  to 
the  feast,  while  the  men  themselves  cheered  the  people,  the 
band,  and  ate  heartily  of  the  viands  offered.  Led  by  the 
band,  the  company  marched  down  the  river  road  to  the 
water-cure  establishment  of  Dr.  Munde.  The  latter  had  been 
a  colonel  in  the  Hungarian  army,  a  fellow  patriot  with  Kossuth, 
and  the  youthful  soldiers  cheered  the  old  one  to  the  echo. 
Courteously  declining  the  doctor's  invitation  to  enter  his 
house,  the  men  marched  under  his  large  and  handsome  flag 
and  proceeded  on  their  way,  halting  in  front  of  the  house  of 
Julius  Phelps  where  they  parted  from  the  band,  sending  the 
musicians  off  with  rousing  cheers. 

At  Leeds,  the  enthusiasm  of  Florence  was  repeated  and 
Haydenville  was  found  all  astir.  Again  came  a  brass  band 
and  the  people  in  line,  led  by  Captain  Alvin  Fisher,  all  of 
whom  escorted  the  visitors,  with  the  firing  of  cannon  and  the 
waving  of  flags,  into  the  village.  A  great  assemblage  of 
residents  and  friends  from  the  vicinity  vied  with  each  other 
in  welcoming  the  men  in  uniform.  Again  feasting  was  in 
order,  for  on  a  grass  plot,  south  of  the  old  store,  tables  had 
been  set  and  covered  with  a  wide  range  of  toothsome  food. 
Hot  coffee  and  cider  (at  that  season  of  the  year  it  must  have 
been  a  trifle  hard)  were  distributed  freely,  nor  were  speeches 
wanting.  Dr.  Trow  spoke  warm  words  of  welcome,  not  only 
expressing  the  devotion  of  his  fellow  citizens,  but  urging  his 
listeners  to  promptly  avenge  the  recent  slaughter  in  the 
streets  of  Baltimore.  Following  the  feast,  the  men  marched 
through  the  principal  streets  and  sang  popular  songs  to  the 
delight  of  great  throngs  of  people. 

At  half  past  three,  Haydenville  was  left  behind  and  the 
road  to  Williamsburg  was.  taken,  under  the  escort  of  the 


COMPANY  C  '381 

Haydenville  band  and  many  of  the  people.  All  along  the 
route  the  people  were  awake  to  the  scene  and  nowhere  was 
enthusiasm  lacking.  Some  distance  away  from  Williamsburg, 
they  were  met  by  a  company  of  horsemen  under  whose  lead, 
at  half  past  four,  still  accompanied  by  the  Haydenville  band 
and  people,  the  soldiers  entered  the  village.  They  marched 
up  Williams  Street  to  Thayer's  factory,  thence  down  Main 
Street,  halting  in  front  of  Colonel  Wood's  hotel.  Once  more 
a  considerable  portion  of  Hampshire's  people  were  visible 
and  all,  seemingly,  had  provided  themselves  with  flags. 
Tents  were  pitched  on  the  elevation,  owned  by  Capt.  C.  A. 
W'illiams,  southwest  of  the  hotel,  the  big  cannon  was  stationed 
near  and  from  a  pole,  erected  that  very  morning  by  the  young 
men  of  the  village,  a  large  flag  was  floating.  The  citizens 
had  named  the  combination,  "Camp  Butler." 

Evidently  the  people  did  not  intend  that  these  embryonic 
soldiers  should  go  hungry  for  again  they  were  invited  to  eat, 
this  time  at  tables  set  in  the  town  hall  under  the  direction  of 
Colonel  Wood  and  to  the  food  provided  in  abundance  the 
visitors  did  ample  justice.  Then  came  the  first  experience  in 
regular  camp  duties,  as  the  placing  of  guards  and  the  mainten 
ance  of  order  and  discipline.  Friday  morning  at  six  o'clock, 
the  men  breakfasted  in  the  towrn  hall,  the  divine  blessing 
being  invoked  by  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Phillips,  who  after  the  meal 
and  a  two  hours'  drill  on  Main  Street,  addressed  the  company 
drawn  up  in  front  of  the  hotel.  His  remarks  which  were 
timely,  forceful  and  patriotic,  were  heard  with  pleasure  by  the 
men  and  were  loudly  applauded.  Then  came  cheers  for  the 
Company  by  the  people  and  the  "boys"  answered  back  with 
equally  hearty  cheers  for  the  good  old  town  of  Williamsburg. 

After  Captain  Marsh  had  thanked  the  people  for  their 
hospitality,  accompanied  by  the  booming  of  the  cannon  at 
Camp  Butler,  Company  C  marched  out  of  the  village  on  its 
return  trip.  Again  Haydenville  was  ready  to  receive  the 
Company  and  again  its  hospitality  was  tested,  and  after  a 
rest  of  an  hour  or  more,  the  men  started  for  their  rendezvous, 
by  way  of  the  old  road.  Half  past  one  in  the  afternoon 
brought  them  to  Florence  where  a  rest  of  two  hours  was 
enjoyed  in  the  grove  near  the  new  church  where  refreshments 
were  furnished  by  Messrs.  Parsons,  Littlefield,  Whitehouse 
and  others.  Thence  proceeding  homeward,  they  were  met 
at  four  o'clock,  at  the  upper  end  of  Elm  Street,  by  the  North 
ampton  band  and  escorted  into  town  where,  on  Main  Street, 
there  was  a  large  assemblage  of  people  who  had  gathered  to 


382  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

witness  the  presentation  of  a  Testament  and  Psalms  to  each 
member  by  the  Sunday  School  children  of  the  town.  The 
Rev.  Dr.  Eddy  spoke  for  the  children  in  a  highly  appropriate 
manner  and  to  his  words  Captain  Marsh  replied  in  equally 
significant  terms.  Other  speakers  were  Lieut.  Parsons  of 
the  Company  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hall  who  also  spoke  for  the 
young  people  and  their  gifts. 

The  election  of  officers  by  the  members  of  Company  C 
came  on  the  22d  of  May,  and  resulted  in  the  election  of  Cap 
tain,  Wm.  R.  Marsh;  First  Lieutenant,  Jos.  B.  Parsons; 
Second  Lieut.,  J.  D.  Kellogg,  Jr.;  Third  Lieut.,  J.  R.  Hillman; 
Fourth  Lieut.,  Charles  H.  Brewster.  The  Company  voted 
unanimously  to  enlist  for  three  years  or  the  war.  As  J.  D. 
Kellogg,  Jr.,  just  elected  third  officer,  could  not  leave  for  that 
length  of  time,  he  was  honorably  discharged  and  later  Flavel 
Shurtleff  was  elected  to  his  place.  Friday  evening,  May  24th, 
under  command  of  Lieut.  Parsons,  Company  C  visited  Flor 
ence  to  participate  in  a  flag  raising.  As  formerly,  there  went 
forth  the  citizens  and  the  band,  and  again  there  were  refresh 
ments  in  abundance.  Then  came  the  flag  raising,  across  the 
street  from  the  store  of  Parsons  and  Co.,  followed  by  speeches 
by  Messrs.  Littlefield,  Dr.  Munde,  J.  B.  Whitehouse,  A.  T. 
Lilly  and  James  Flood.  Lieut.  Parsons  thanked  the  people 
for  their  kindness  to  his  men,  after  which  an  oath  was  taken 
by  them  to  "protect  the  flag  at  all  times,  under  all  circum 
stances  and  at  every  hazard."  After  an  exchange  of  cheers 
by  populace  and  soldiers,  the  latter  marched  back  to  town, 
accompanied  by  the  band.  As  they  were  coming  down  the 
hill,  near  the  Mansion  House,  they  were  met  by  the  Young 
Home  Guard,  commanded  by  Captain  Luke  Lyman,  and 
escorted  to  their  armory  where  patriotic  songs  were  sung  to 
the  evident  enjoyment  of  all. 

Monday,  June  3d,  Captain  Marsh  received  the  following 
order  from  the  Adjutant-General: 

COMMONWEALTH  OF  MASSACHUSETTS, 

HEADQUARTERS,  Boston,  May  31,  1861. 
SPECIAL  ORDER,  No.  277. 

SIR: — The  offer  of  the  company  under  your  command  to 
enter  the  service  of  the  United  States,  as  volunteers,  under 
the  general  order  No.  12,  of  May  22,  1861,  has  been  accepted, 
and  the  company  is  hereby  designated  as  one  of  'those  in  a 
regiment  to  be  formed  of  companies  raised  in  the  counties  of 
Berkshire,  Franklin,  Hampshire  and  Hampden. 


COMPANY  C  383 

You  will  receive  herewith  an  enlistment  roll  which  you  will 
have  filled  up  and  returned  to  headquarters,  without  delay, 
observing  that  the  roll  is  not  to  contain  more  than  seventy-nine 
names.  The  company  will  be  hereafter  filled  up  to  one  hun 
dred  and  one,  by  enlistments  from  other  companies,  to  be 
designated.  The  regimental  and  company  officers  will  be 
appointed  when  the  companies  are  mustered  into  the  service 
of  the  United  States,  to  which  duty  an  officer  of  the  United 
States  army  will  attend  with  the  least  possible  delay. 

You  will  receive  orders  as  to  the  place  and  time,  at  which 
the  company  is  to  report,  to  be  mustered  into  the  service. 

By  order  of  His  Excellency,  John  A.  Andrew,  Governor  and 
Commander-in-chief. 

WILLIAM  SCHOULER,  Adjutant-General, 
Per  HARRISON  RITCHIE,  Lieut. -Colonel  and  A.  D.  C. 
To  CAPTAIN  WILLIAM  R.  MARSH,  Northampton. 

Everybody  was  glad  to  get  the  order  and  preparations  for 
departure  were  at  once  begun.  June  10th  a  farewell  ball  was 
given  in  the  town  hall  and  a  hundred  couples  tripped  the 
"light  fantastic"  while  "bright  the  lamps  shone  o'er  fair 
women  and  brave  men."  On  the  12th  came  orders  for  the 
Company  to  report  in  Springfield  on  the  14th,  and  if  possible, 
military  manceuvers  were  executed  more  brilliantly  than  ever, 
with  the  certainty  of  leaving  being  so  near.  Unfortunately, 
just  before  departing,  they  were  compelled  to  contribute 
their  muskets  to  men  nearer  ready  than  themselves,  down 
Boston  way.  Thursday,  the  13th,  the  last  day  in  Hampshire 
county  was  devoted  to  home-seeking  and  leave-taking.  Very 
likely  Northampton  had  never  seen  a  more  interesting  sight 
than  that  of  the  14th  when  Main  Street  was  thronged  with 
her  citizens,  assembled  to  see  their  boys  away.  Before  the 
war  was  done,  they  grew  used  to  it,  but  the  scene  never  lost 
its  pangs  of  parting.  There  were  the  Deluge  Fire  Engine 
company,  several  of  whose  members  were  in  the  ranks,  the 
Hatfield  brass  band,  the  Young  Home  Guard,  some  forty  in 
number,  headed  by  the  Florence  band,  all  of  whom  proceeded 
down  the  street  to  the  front  of  the  Court  House,  followed 
by  Sheriff  Longley  and  his  deputies  in  uniform;  also  present 
were  Samuel  F.  Lyman,  Judge  of  Probate,  and  Samuel  Wells, 
Clerk  of  Courts.  Before  a  line,  formed  in  front  of  the  First 
Church,  the  Company  passed,  receiving  a  tribute  from  all 
beholders.  Thence  they  marched  on  to  the  town  hall  and  so  to 
the  station  followed  by  the  cheers  and  flag-waving  of  the 
great  array  of  people. 


384  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

So  crowded  were  the  streets,  there  was  scant  space  for  the 
soldiers  to  pass,  but  it  was  a  good-natured  assembly  and  so 
all  went  merrily.  Halting  near  the  depot,  on  the  west  side, 
friends  thronged  about  the  men  to  say  the  final  "Good-byes." 
Soon  after  eleven  o'clock,  came  the  regular  train  from  the 
north,  bearing  the  companies  from  Shelburne  and  Greenfield 
and  with  Northampton's  joined,  the  train  proceeded  on  its 
way  to  Springfield,  the  happy  occupants  of  the  cars  making 
them  ring  with  patriotic  airs,  sung  to  the  accompaniment  of 
Fred  Hoffman's  accordeon.  On  reaching  Springfield,  preceded 
by  the  Hatfield  band,  Company  C  marched  down  Main  Street, 
halted  in  front  of  the  Republican  office,  cheered  the  loyal 
press  and  thence  marched  to  Hampden  Park,  getting  there 
about  one  o'clock,  and  the  men  turned  at  once  into  their 
barracks,  where  they  bunked  in  squads  of  eight  or  ten  men 
each.  All  sorts  of  fanciful  names  were  given  the  various 
squads  and  the  place  reserved  for  the  officers  was  even  denomi 
nated  "St.  Nicholas."  At  six  in  the  afternoon,  the  Company 
saw  the  band  to  the  depot  and  the  day's  work  was  done. 

On  the  17th  of  June,  a  town  meeting  was  held  in  Northamp 
ton,  attended  by  less  than  one  hundred  voters  of  which 
Charles  Delano  was  moderator  and  to  which  Osmyn  Baker 
made  a  lengthy  report  of  the  work  of  the  committee  appointed 
to  disburse  the  money  appropriated  by  the  town  for  military 
purposes.  There  had  been  expended  $3,310  out  of  the  $10,000 
appropriated  and,  as  there  seemed  to  be  no  probability  of 
the  remainder  being  used  as  originally  expected,  it  was  voted 
to  apply  the  sum  to  the  regular  tax.  While  there  was  some 
discussion  over  the  payment  of  certain  bills,  incurred  in  the 
raising  and  maintaining  of  the  Company,  the  selectmen  were 
finally  directed  to  pay  all  bills  that  to  them  seemed  reasonable. 
It  wras  also  voted  to  buy  a  rubber  blanket  for  each  member 
of  the  local  company.  Though  many  of  the  men  had,  nomi 
nally,  enlisted  nearly  two  months  before,  the  date,  June  21st, 
is  given  on  the  State  House  rolls  as  that  of  enlistment  as  well 
as  muster-in. 

(For  full  explanation  of  abbreviations,  see  page  332.) 
COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

Joseph  B.  Parsons,  b.  Northampton;  33,  M.;  farmer,  North 
ampton;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  head  and  thigh,  May  31,  '62, 
Fair  Oaks;  prom.  Lieut.  Colonel. 


COMPANY  C  385 

James  H.  Wetherell,  Sept.  8,  '62;  wd.  May  12,  '64,  Spottsyl- 
vania;  d.  of  wds.,  June  20,  '64,  Georgetown,  D.  C.;  bur. 
from  the  Edwards  Church,  Northampton,  June  26,  with 
Masonic  rites  at  the  grave.  So  nearly  did  the  death  of 
Capt.  Wetherell  coincide  with  the  M.  O.  of  the  Regiment, 
many  of  his  fellow  officers  and  men  were  present  at  his 
funeral. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS 

James  H.  Wetherell,  b.  Northampton;  33,  M.;  laborer, 
Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  having  been  an  active 
member  of  the  fire  department,  on  July  4,  '61,  he  was 
given  a  beautiful  dress  sword  by  Deluge  Engine  company, 
the  presentation  being  made  by  Wm.  Turner,  Esq.; 
prom.  Captain. 

Charles  H.  Brewster,  Sept.  29,  '62;  appointed  Adjutant, 
Dec.,  '62. 

Edwin  M.  Whitney,  from  First  Sergt.,  Nov.  26,  '62;  was  staff 
officer  for  a  while  in  '64;  wd.  left  foot,  May  18,  '64, 
Spottsylvania ;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  '69,  jeweller,  Attle- 
boro  Falls;  Overseer  of  the  Poor,  3  years;  in  Legislature, 
House,  '89,  '90;  in  1908,  21  Towne  St.,  Attleboro  Falls. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS 

Flavel  Shurtleff,  b.  Pawtuxet,  R.  I.;  32,  M.;  hosp.  nurse, 
Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  prom.  First  Lieut.,  (A). 

Charles  H.  Brewster,  Dec.  5,  '61;  prom.  First  Lieut. 
Willard  I.  Bishop,  Aug.  9,  '62;    prom.  First  Lieut.,  (A). 

Edward  H.  Graves,  from  Q.  M.  Sergt.,  Nov.  3,  '62;  prom. 
First  Lieut.,  (K). 

Charles  H.  Knapp,  trans,  from  (A),  June  1,  '64,  and  was  in 
command  of  Company  at  M.  O.;  in  1908,  Engineer,  Fire 
Dept.  Holyoke. 

NON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS    AND    PRIVATES 

Abbott,   James   H.,   b.    Hatfield;    20,   S.;    farmer,   Hatfield; 

June  21,  '61;   k.  as  Sergt.,  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania. 
Allen,  William  B.,  (R),  b.  Springfield;    35,  — ;    confectioner, 

Northampton;    Mar.   19,  '62;    prom.  O.  M.  Sergt.,  Nov. 

3,  '62. 


380 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


CAPT.  W.  I.  BISHOP,  LIEUT.  EDWIN  M.  WHITNEY, 

MYRON  P.  WALKER, 
1ST.  SERG'T.  S.  S.  WILLIAMS,  FRANK  C.  PARK. 

Atwood,  Charles  H.,  b.  Pittsfield;  20,  S.;  farmer,  Belcher- 
town;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  foot,  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks; 
dis.  Sept.  21,  '62,  disa. 

Ball,  Nelson  O.,  b.  Amherst;  22,  S.;  blacksmith,  Amherst; 
June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  wd.  knee,  May  12,  '64, 
Spottsylvania;  trans,  as  Corp.,  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.; 
trans.  Feb.  2,  '65,  V.  R.  C.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  dead. 

Bannerot,  Constant  E.,  b.  Germany;  22,  S.;  laborer,  North 
ampton;  June  21,  '61;  k.  as  Sergt.,  May  3,  '63,  Salem 
Heights,  Va. 

Bardwell,  Charles  L.,  b.  Hatfield;    33,  S.;    laborer,  Hatfield; 


COMPANY  C  387 

June  14,  '61;    dis.  Aug.  16,  '62,  disa.;    in  1873,  painter, 
Northampton. 

Barrett,  Benton,  b.  Belchertown;  24,  M.;  farmer,  Belcher- 
town;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  Michigan. 

Barrows,  Wm.  R.,  b.  Mansfield,  Conn.;  42,  M.;  farmer, 
Belchertown,  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  2,  '61,  disa. 

Benson,  Charles,  b.  Belchertown;  18,  — ;  confectioner, 
Springfield;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  also  found  as 
"missing  since  May  12,  '64;"  d.  prisoner,  Andersonville. 

Bigelow,  Charles  H.,  b.  Deerfield;  36,  M.;  painter,  Northamp 
ton;  June  14,  '61;   re.  Dec.  21,  '63;    trans.  June  21,  '64, 
37th   Mass.;    trans.   June   21,    '65,    20th   Mass.;     M.    O. 
July  16,  '65;   d.  1895. 

Bishop,  Willard  I.,  (Sergt.),  b  Littleton,  N.  H.;  25,  M.; 
telegrapher,  Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  First  Sergt. 
Dec.  5,  '61;  wd.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  prom.  Second 
Lieut;  in  '56-'58,  resided  in  Georgia  and  was  a  member  of 
the  Georgia  "State  Volunteers;"  in  1908,  station  agent, 
North  Hatfield,  Mass. 

Bliss,  George  S.,  (Corp.),  b.  Northampton;  21,  S.;  clerk, 
Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  8,  '62,  as  Sergt.  for 
Com.,  Captain,  52nd  Mass.;  k.  Port  Hudson,  La.,  July 
14,  '63 ;  bur.  Northampton. 

Boise,  Frank  E.,  b.  Canada;  18,  S.;  paper-maker,  Northamp 
ton;  June  21,  '61;  trans.  Navy,  Sept.  30,  '62;  dis.  from 
the  Lexington,  Sept.  25,  '63;  rec'd  medal  for  gallant 
conduct  in  the  service. 

Braman,  James  H.,  (Sergt.),  b.  Northampton;  21,  S.;  iron 
founder,  Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62, 
Fair  Oaks;  a  member  of  Deluge  Engine  company,  he  was 
one  of  the  first  to  enlist;  bur.  Northampton. 

Brew,  Michael,  b.  Ireland;  18,  S.;  carriage  trimmer,  Belcher 
town;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  head  and  arm,  May  31,  '62, 
Fair  Oaks;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  South  Hadley;  wd. 
May  5,  '64,  Wilderness;  trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.; 
trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in 
1869,  carriage  trimmer,  Boston,  member  Post  26,  G.  A.  R. 

Brewster,  Charles  H.,  (First  Sergt.),  b.  Northampton;  27,  S.; 
clerk,  Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  prom.  Second  Lieut.; 
had  been  in  the  State  Militia. 

Brown,  Henry  A.  (Corp.),  b.  Whately;  24,  M.;  April  19, 
'61;  Sergt.,  Aug.  8,  '61;  prom.  Second  Lieut.,  Co.  K; 
1909,  Delta,  Ohio. 


388  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Bullard,  Wm.  H.,  b.  Ashuelot,  N.  H.;  20,  S.;  machinist, 
Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  22,  '62,  disa.; 
later  in  Co.  E,  1st  Mass.  Cav.;  M.  O.  June  26,  '65. 

Burby,  Henry  C.;  22,  — ;  operator,  Ballston  Spa,  N.  Y.; 
June  21,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill;  letter  W.  D. 
says,  "dis.  from  Hosp.,  '64." 

Clark,  Allen  S.;  28,  — ;  -  — ,  Northampton;  June  21,  '61; 
town  record  says,  "dis.  for  disa.,  since  dead." 

Clark,  Frederick  W.,  b.  Northampton;  20,  M.;  paper-maker, 
Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern 
Hill;  dis.  Oct.  17,  '62,  disa.;  d.  1908. 

Clark,  John  C.,  b.  Hadley;  23,  S.;  broom-maker,  Hadley; 
June  21,  '61;  wd.  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania ;  d.  from 
wds.,  May  21,  '64,  White  House  Landing;  bur.  May  28, 
Hadley;  one  of  the  first  to  enlist  from  Hadley. 

Clark,  John  P.,  b.  Conway;  21,  S.;  mechanic,  Conway;  for 
some  time  was  armorer  while  the  Regiment  was  at 
Brightwood;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  later  in  Co.  B,  61st 
Mass.;  M.  O.  June  16,  '65;  in  1873,  Hartford,  Conn. 

Coburn,  Joseph  P.,  (Corp.),  b.  Bethel,  Vt. ;  37,  M. ;  tool-maker, 
Williamsburg ;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  head,  Spottsylvania; 
M.  O.  as  Sergt.,  July  1,  '64;  was  Color-Sergt.;  d.  1896. 

Coleman,  Perry  M.,  b.  Southampton;  24,  S.;  carpenter, 
Southampton;  June  21,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks; 
he  was  the  first  to  enlist  from  his  town  and  the  first  to 
fall;  his  body,  at  first  bur.  on  the  field,  was  later  brought 
home  and  was  bur.  in  Southampton,  June  18,  '62. 

Converse,  Danforth;  21,  — ;  — ,  Northampton;  June 

21,  '61;  N.  F.  R. 

Cook,  John  H.,  b.  Northampton;  20,  S.;  clerk,  Northampton; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  July  17,  '62,  disa.;  later,  Second  Lieut. 
57th  Mass.;  wd.  abdomen,  Petersburg,  July  21,  '64; 
dis.  Dec.  7,  '64,  as  First  Lieut.,  disa.;  bvt.  Capt.  and 
Major,  Mar.  13,  '65;  in  1873,  clerk,  Custom  House, 
Boston;  d.  1893. 

Cooper,  Henry  W.,  b.  North  Adams;  22,  S.;  wool-sorter, 
Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64.  Also 
Coope  and  Coopee. 

Cornwell,  Norman  S.,  (R),  b.  Middletown,  Conn.;  23,  M.; 
book-binder,  Northampton;  Oct.  18,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21, 
'63;  wd.  foot,  May  2,  '64,  Wilderness;  in  two  days,  foot 
amputated,  field  hosp.;  two  weeks  in  "old  mill,"  Freder- 


COMPANY  C  389 

icksburg,  thence  to  Knight's  Gen'l.  Hosp.,  New  Haven; 
there  three  months;  on  way  to  Readville,  Mass.,  train 
derailed  near  New  London,  nineteen  soldiers  killed  out 
right,  and  several  wounded,  among  them  Private  Corn- 
well;  finally  dis.,  Jan.  7,  '65,  from  Dale  Gen'l.  Hosp., 
'  Worcester,  as  a  member  of  Co.  G,  37th  Mass.;  in  1872, 
book-binder,  Northampton;  d.  1898. 

Crow,  Andrew,  b.  Montgomery;  38,  — ;  mechanic,  Chester; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Mar.  20,  '63,  disa.;  later,  in  Co.  I,  3rd 
Mass.  Heavy  Artillery. 

Daniels,  Henry,  b.  New  London,  Conn.;  21,  S.;  machinist, 
Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  ankle,  May  3,  '63, 
Salem  Heights;  wd.  hand,  Wilderness;  captured  at 
Spottsylvania  and  held  four  days,  escaping  by  negro's 
aid;  wd.  thigh,  Cold  Harbor;  M.  O.  July  1,  64;  in  1873, 
Northampton;  drowned,  1884. 

Davis,  Charles  H.,  b.  Brattleboro,  Vt. ;  21,  S. ;  printer,  Albany, 
N.  Y.;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  8,  '61,^disa. 

Day,  Lewis,  (Sergt.),  b.  Northampton;  25,  M.;  farmer, 
Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  28,  '61,  disa.; 
d.  1897. 

Dodge,  Charles  S.,  (R),b.  Brimfield;  25,  S.;  nurse,  Northamp 
ton;  Sept.  7,  '61;  wd.  leg,  July  1,  '62,  and  left  in  hands 
of  enemy;  trans.  Mar.  22,  '64,  V.  R.  C. 

Draper,  Lorenzo,  b.  Spencer;  22,  M.;  shoemaker,  Buckland; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Mar.  27,  '62,  disa;  later,  in  52nd  Mass.; 
M.  O.  as  Sergt.,  Aug.  15,  '63;  in  1869,  kept  livery  stable, 
Amherst;  Since  d. 

Dunnakin,  Charles,  b.  South  Hadley;  23,  S.;  farmer,  Am 
herst;  June  21, '61;  M.  O.  July  1, '64;  later  in  Hancock's 
Veteran  Volunteers. 

Dunnakin,  Henry  A.,  b.  Hadley;  23,  S.;  broom-maker, 
Hadley;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  21, 
'64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O. 
July  16,  '65;  in  1869,  painter  Northampton;  d.  S.  H., 
May  17,  1891. 

Edwards,  Charles  S.,  b.  Northampton;  23,  S.;  June  21,  '61; 
re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  wd. 
right  shoulder,  Sept.  19,  '64,  Winchester;  trans.  June 
21,  '65;  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in  1873,  North 
ampton;  1909,  Hartford,  Conn. 


390  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Elmer,    Levi,    (R),   b.   Ashfield;     18,    S.;     farmer,   Ashfield; 

Sept.  10,  '61;  dis.  Feb.  18,  '62,  disa. 
Ely,  William;    18,  S.;    printer,  Northampton;    July  24,  '61; 

town  report  says,  "dis.  disa.  and  re.  in  37th  Mass.;   dis. 

June  21,  '65." 
Endicott,  Lewis  F.,  b.  Salem;    23,  S.;    clerk,  Northampton; 

June  21,  '61;    trans.  Oct.  7,  '63,  Signal  Corps;    re.  Feb. 

21,  '64;    dis.  Aug.   16,  '65;    N.  F.  R. 

Evans,  Charles  W.,  (R),  b.  Hinsdale,  N.  H.;  18,  S.;  farmer, 
Northampton;  Mar.  31,  '62;  re.  Jan.  20,  '62,  cr.  Hatfield; 
trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th 
Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65. 

Felton,  Samuel,  Jr.,  b.  Roxbury;  25,  S.;  carpenter,  Belcher- 
town;  June  4,  '61;  served  entire  enlistment  as  brigade 
carpenter;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  millwright, 
Worcester;  rep.  d.  1904. 

Foster,  Wm.  A.  P.,  (R),  b.  Boston;  24,  S.;  farmer,  Whately; 
Sept.  1,  '61;  wd.  arm,  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  wd. 
May  5,  :64,  Wilderness;  ab.  through  wds.  at  time  of 
trans.,  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  dis.  Dec.  6,  '64,  ex.  of  s.; 
d.  1873. 

Goodrich,  Frederick  M.,  b.  New  York  City;  20,  S.;  brass 
finisher,  Williamsburg ;  June  21,  '61;  d.  April  20,  '62, 
Warwick  Ct.  House,  Va. 

Gordon,  Thomas,  23,  S.;  baker,  Northampton;  June  21,  '61; 
dis.  Aug.  5,  '61,  disa. 

Graves,  Edward  H.,  b.  Townshend,  Vt.;  21,  S.;  clerk, 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.;  June  21,  '61;  Q.  M.  Sergt.,  Oct.,  '61; 
prom.  Second  Lieut. 

Graves,  Samuel,  b.  Sunderland;  22,  S.;  painter,  Sunderland; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1873,  painter  and 
paper  hanger,  Amherst. 

Guyer,  Henry,  b.  Newark,  N.  J.;  22,  S.;  jeweller,  Williams- 
"  burg;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  hand,  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks; 
dis.  for  Com.  Second  Lieut.,  Co.  F,  13th  New  Jersey 
Volunteers;  prom.  First  Lieut,  and  Capt.;  M.  O.  June  8, 
'65;  later  engaged  in  mining,  Montana  and  Idaho;  in 
1884,  went  to  Chili,  South  America,  and  there  and  in 
Peru  followed  mining  very  successfully;  finally  organized 
and  became  Vice-Pres.  of  a  company  operating  in  Peru; 
d.  May  31,  1907,  Lima,  Peru;  bur.'  in  Bella  Vista,  the 
English  cemetery  of  that  city. 


COMPANY  C 


891 


E.  M.  JOHNSON, 
ALVIN  RUST, 


HENRY  GUYER,  J.  R.  HOWES  AT  20, 

Serg't.  J.  H.  HOWARD,     Color  Serg't.  J.  P.  COBURN. 


Harris,  Judson  W.,  b.  Hatfield;  24,  S.;  carpenter,  Hatfield; 
June  21,  '61;  wd.  May,  '64,  Wilderness;  d.  from  wds., 
as  Corp.,  Sept.  12,  '64,  Alexandria,  Va. 

Hartwell,  Francis  E.,  (R),  b.  Conway;  19,  S.;  farmer,  Con- 
way;  Sept.  7,  '61;  re.  Jan.  20,  '64;  wd.  May,  '64,  Wilder 
ness;  trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65, 
20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  1909,  Springfield. 

Hillman,  Frederick  O.,  b.  Williamsburg ;  23,  S.;  tinsmith, 
Williamsburg;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  as  Sergt.,  Feb.  8,  '63; 
disa.;  in  1873,  machinist,  Haydenville;  d.  1881. 

Himes,  Ezra,  b.  New  Bedford;  22,  S.;  baker,  Northampton; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  as  Sergt.,  July  1,  '64;  d.  S.  H.,  Nov. 
18,  1907;  bur.  Rural  Cem.,  New  Bedford. 

Howard,  J.  Hervey,  b.  Chester;  20,  S.;  laborer,  Chester; 
June  21,  '61;  Corp.,  '63;  Sergt.,  May  18,  '64;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '65;  served  M.  V.  M.,  '66-'67;  Capt.,  Northampton 
Co.,  '71;  since  1885,  in  general  store,  Hatfield;  Chairman 
Board  of  Selectmen,  '90,  '91,  '92. 


392  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Howe,  George  W.,  31,  M.;  mechanic,  Chester;  June  21,  '61; 
dis.  March  17,  '63,  disa.;  in  1873,  farmer,  Middlefield; 
d.  1895. 

Howes,  Charles  F.,  b.  Hawley;  20,  S.;  musician,  Reedsboro, 
Vt.;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  9,  '62,  for  Com.,  1st  Va. 
(loyal)  Infty. ;  prom.  First  Lieut.,  16th  W.  Va.  Infty ;  M.  O. 
June  10,  '63;  rep.  d.  1903. 

Howes,  James  R.,  b.  Ashfield;  18,  S.;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  head, 
May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  Jan.  3,  '63,  disa.  from  said 
wound ;  from  '64  a  resident  of  Holyoke ;  at  first  a  carpenter ; 
in  '72  was  Ass't.  Supt.  for  building  new  City  Hall,  Hol 
yoke;  from  '74,  four  years,  City  Messenger;  thence 
contractor  and  builder  until  1890;  through  Civil  Service 
examination,  rec'd.  appointment  as  State  Inspector  of 
Factories  and  Public  Buildings,  April,  '90,  and  holds  the 
office  in  1908;  member  of  Kilpatrick  Post,  No.  71, 
Holyoke;  the  first  and  youngest  enlisted  man  from 
the  town. 

Hoxie,  David  E.,  (R),  b.  Northampton;  22,  S.;  carpenter, 
Northampton;  Oct.  18,  '61;  dis.  Mar.  20,  '63,  disa.; 
from  '70,  several  years  Secretary,  Jerusalem  Lodge,  F. 
&  A.  M.,  Northampton;  member  Common  Council,  '88 
and  '89;  Alderman,  '91;  member  Board  of  Health,  '92- 
'94;  member  Cemetery  committee,  '99-'01;  connected 
with  Mass.  Bureau  Statistics  of  Labor  in  various  capaci 
ties  since  1890;  Inspector  of  Census,  Hampshire  county, 
1905-'07;  Cooperative  Observer,  U.  S.  Weather  Bureau 
and  Crop  Reporter  since  1893;  residence,  Northampton. 

Hyde,  Oliver,  b.  Belchertown;  23,  S.;  stable  keeper,  Belcher- 
town;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  June  21,  '64;  in  1873,  farmer; 
1898,  Belchertown. 

Irwin,  Samuel,  (R) ;  25,  S.;  laborer,  Longmeadow;  Dec.  21, 
'63;  d.  May  29,  '64,  of  wds.  rec'd.  May  13,  '64,  Spottsyl- 
vania;  Newell  has  Irvine. 

Ives,  Henry  A.,  b.  Haydenville;  24,  S.;  carpenter,  Williams- 
burg;  June  21,  '61;  trans.  Battery  E,  5th  U.  S.  Artillery, 
Dec.  5,  '62;  1909,  Goshen. 

James,  Frank  M.,  b.  Three  Rivers;  19,  M.;  machinist, 
Holyoke;  June  21,  '61;  desert.  June  25,  '63. 

Jewett,  J.  Howard,  b.  Hadley;  18,  S.;  clerk,  Hadley;  April 
26,  '61;  the  first  volunteer  from  the  town;  disa.  Mar. 
10,  '62,  by  reason  of  typhoid  fever  which  sent  him  to  hosp., 


COMPANY  C  393 

where,  during  convalescence,  he  was  detailed  for  duty  as 
clerk  at  Mount  Pleasant  and  Stone  general  hospitals 
until  July  3,  '63,  when  he  was  trans,  to  V.  R.  C.;  prom. 
Second  Lieut,  in  V.  R.  C.,  Oct.  28,  '63;  A.  A.  A.  G.  on 
staff  of  First  Brigade,  V.  R.  C.  and  A.  A.  Q.  M.  Second 
Brig.,  V.  R.  C.  and  four  months  was  Post  Adj.,  depot 
prisoners  of  war,  Rock  Island,  111.;  res.  July  8,  '64;  since 
the  war,  in  daily  newspaper  and  magazine  journalism 
and  authorship,  especially  in  juvenile  literature  as  author 
of  some  twenty  or  more  volumes  of  story-books  for 
children;  also  some  patriotic  and  army  verse;  residence, 
Dec.,  1907,  New  York  City;  member,  Authors'  Club. 

Jillson,  Manley,  b.  Pelham;  42,  M.;  miller,  Pelham;  June  21, 
'61;  dis.  Nov.  29,  '62,  disa.;  in  1867,  Northampton. 

Johnson,  Eben  M.,  b.  Amherst;  24,  S.;  laborer,  Amherst; 
wd.  right  hand,  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks,  in  helping  carry 
the  body  of  Captain  E.  E.  Day  from  the  field;  re.  Jan. 
20,  '64,  cr.  Northampton;  trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.; 
trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in 
1869,  farmer,  Northampton;  d.  1900,  Amherst. 

Kellogg,  George  W.,  b.  Northampton;  26,  S.;  machinist, 
Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1907, 
N.  S.  H.,  Togus,  Me. 

Kennedy,  Martin,  (R) ;  22,  S.;  bootmaker,  Ashland;  cr. 
Boston;  Dec.  8,  '63;  wd.  leg,  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania ; 
trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th 
Mass.;  dis.  June  20,  '65,  ex.  of  s. 

Kingsley,  Calvin  B.,  b.  Northampton;  22,  S.;  farmer,  North 
ampton;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill; 
Sergt.,  Mar.  3,  '63;  dis.  April  21,  '63,  disa.;  in  1869, 
farmer,  Northampton;  d.  Jan.  1905. 

Kingsley,  P.  Wellington,  b.  Williamsburg ;  35,  M.;  plane- 
maker,  Williamsburg;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
d.  1904. 

Kingsley,  Wm.  M.,  b.  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  20,  S.;  musician, 
Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  both  legs,  May  31,  '62, 
Fair  Oaks;  prom.  Chief  Bugler,  June  2,  '63;  d.  1904. 

Leach,  Forace,  b.  Belchertown;  25,  S.;  engineer,  Belcher- 
town;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  as  Corp.,  July  1,  '64;  in  1873, 
in  Belchertown;  d.  1897. 

Lee,   Frank   Wm.,   b.    Gill;     22,   S.;    shoemaker,    Buckland; 


394 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


D.  E.  HOXIE, 
C.  B.  KINGSLEY, 


PRIN.  MUS.  W.  M.  KINGSLEY 
OLIVER  HYDE. 


June  21,  '61;  wd.  in  face  and  neck,  and  spine  injured, 
May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  Nov.  29,  '62,  disa.;  in  1869, 
bootmaker,  Westfield;  1908,  Huntington. 
Loomis,  Joshua  A.,  b.  Goshen;  22,  S. ;  brass- finisher,  Williams- 
burg;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  27,  '62,  for  Com.  First 
Lieut.,  37th  Mass.;  Captain,  June  4,  '63;  wd.  near 
Winchester,  Va.,  and  dis.  Nov.  19,  '64,  on  account  of  wds. ; 
in  1908,  druggist  in  Easthampton. 

Lovett,  Patrick,  (R),  38,  M.;  laborer,  Northampton;  Nov. 
6,  '62;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.; 
k.  July  12,  '64,  in  Early's  Assault  on  Washington,  D.  C., 
in  front  of  Ft.  Stevens,  near  Camp  Brightwood. 

McMillan,  Michael  (R),  b.  Scotland;  44,  M.;  operator,  En- 
field;  Sept.  7,  '61;  dis.  June  10,  '62,  disa. 

Manning,  Augustus  A.,  b.  Goshen;  23,  S.;  farmer,  Goshen; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  farmer,  Goshen,  1909. 

Mather,    William,    b.    Northampton;     24,    S.;     blacksmith, 


COMPANY  C  395 

Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  both  thighs,  May  31, 
'62,  Fair  Oaks;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  blacksmith, 
Hadley;  d.  1896. 

Moody,  Edward  F.,  b.  Northampton;  18,  S.;  farmer,  North 
ampton;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  left  hand,  July  1,  '62,  Malvern 
Hill;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  machinist,  Northampton. 

Moody,  Marcus  T.,  (Corp.),  b.  Northampton;  19,  S.;  old 
member,  Co.  C;  clerk,  Northampton;  wd.  hand,  May 
31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  Sept.  28,  '62,  for  Com.  as  Captain, 
37th  Mass.;  prom.  Major,  Dec.  7,  '63;  dis.  July  26,  '64, 
disa.  on  account  of  wds.  rec'd.  in  action;  in  1869,  clerk, 
Northampton;  1909,  Tacoma  Bldg.,  Chicago. 

Morton,  Dwight,  b.  Hatfield;  33,  S.;  broom-maker,  Hatfield; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Feb.  28,  '63,  disa.;  in  1873,  farmer, 
East  Whately;  d.  1897. 

Munyan,  Alanson  E.,  (Corp.),  b.  Northampton;  24,  S.;  far 
mer,  Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  Sergt.,  Jan.  9,  '62; 
prom.  First  Lieut.,  (H). 

Nally,  Edward  P.,  b.  New  York  City;  21,  S.;  cutler,  Shel- 
burne;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill;  dis. 
Mar.  20,  '63,  disa.;  later  Co.  B,  1st  Heavy  Artillery;  in 
1909,  Chicopee  Falls.  . 

Nims,  John  Allen,  (Sergt.),  b.  Buckland;  31,  M.;  daguerreo- 
typist,  Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  June  18,  '62, 
disa.;  d.  Jan.  27,  '66;  bur.  Shelburne  Falls. 

Noble,  Linus  P.,  b.  Northampton;  22,  S.;  tinsmith,  North 
ampton;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  rep.  d.  1898. 
Newell  has  Lucius  J. 

Norcross,  Francis  N.,  (R),  b.  Lancaster;  26,  S.;  bootmaker, 
Chicopee;  April  8,  '62;  dis.  Dec.  17,  '62,  disa. 

Park,  Frank  C.,  b.  Quincy;  21,  S.;  palm  leaf  splitter,  Monson; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1907,  overseer,  Monson. 

Parsons,  Henry  W.,  b.  Northampton;  22,  S.;  farmer,  North 
ampton;  June  21,  '61;  an  old  member  of  Co.  C;  he  was 
strong  and  robust,  but  succumbed  to  disease,  dying  at 
Camp  Brightwood,  Oct.  7,  '61;  his  remains  were  taken 
to  Northampton  and  buried  from  the  Edwards  church, 
Oct.  10,  '61. 

Pease,  Edwin  S.,  (R),  b.  Greenwich;  23,  S.;  farmer,  North 
ampton;  Oct.  18,  '61;  suffering  from  Chickahominy 
malaria,  he  had  gone  to  his  home  in  Northampton  to 
recover,  but  instead,  died  there,  Feb.  23,  '63. 


396 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


Phillips,  George  C.,  b.  Fitchburg;  21,  S.;  clerk,  Fitchburg; 
June  21,  '61;  captured  May  12,  '64;  M.  O.  as  Corp., 
July  1,  '64;  d.  Sept.  6,  1887,  Providence,  R.  I.;  his  Post 
(113,  Boston)  held  special  memorial  services  at  which 
were  present  Gov.  Oliver  Ames  and  other  notables;  a 
significant  feature  was  the  singing  of  "Missing  None,"  to 
the  tune  of  the  ''Vacant  Chair,"  the  poetry  having  been 
written  for  Phillips  by  his  Comrade,  J.  H.  Jewett. 


CORP.  G.  C.  PHILLIPS,     SERG'T.  A.  A.  MANNING, 


J.  H.  JEWETT. 


Policy,  George  F.,  b.  Stockbridge;  21,  S.;  silver  plater, 
Williamsburg;  June  21,  '61;  Sergt.  Major  from  First 
Sergt.,  Feb.  9,  '63. 

Prentiss,  Hiram  B.,  (Corp.),  b.  Holden;  27,  M.;  weaver, 
Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Mar.  30,  '63,  disa.; 
d.  before  1875. 

Prouty,  Edward  F.,  b.  Amherst;  18,  S.;  clerk,  Northampton; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  12,  '61,  disa.;  in  1869,  hair 
dresser,  Northampton. 

Putnam,  George  L.,  b.  Amherst;  19,  S.;  plane-maker,  Am 
herst;  June  21,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks. 

Reynolds,  George,  (R),  b.  Hadley;  24,  S.;  farmer,  Hadley; 
Sept.  7,  '61;  wd.  wrist,  May,  '64,  Wilderness;  trans. 
June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  dis.  Sept.  10,  '64,  ex.  of  s.; 
d.  June  1905. 

Robbins,  Reuben  S.,  b.  Thompson,  Conn.;  32,  S.;  painter, 
Belchertown;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans. 
June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  dis.  June  7,  '65,  disa. 

Rodgers,  Charles  A.,  b.  Williamsburg;  33,  M.;  blacksmith, 
Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1909, 
Cushman.  Also  found  as  Rogers. 


COMPANY  C  397 

Rust,  Alvin,  b.  Northampton;  31,  S.;  clerk,  Northampton; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  as  Corp.,  July  1,  '64;  d.  April  5,  1899, 
aged  69  years,  7  mos.,  9  days. 

Shay,  Dennis,  (R) ;  38,  M.;  laborer,  Northampton;  Nov. 
6,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Sheehy,  Robert,  b.  Ireland;  21,  S.;  cutler,  Greenfield;  June 
21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  wd.  hand,  May,  '64,  Wilder 
ness;  d.  Jan.  14,  1904,  S.  H. 

Shumway,  David  K.,  24,  S.;  carriage  trimmer,  Belchertown; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  June,  '63,  Campbell's  Hosp.,  Washing 
ton,  D.  C.,  disa.;  re.  Dec.  10,  '63,  (First  Sergt.),  Co.  B, 
56th  Mass.;  wd.  May  6,  '64;  dis.  Jan.  17,  '65,  on  account 
of  wds.;  in  1908,  Belchertown;  Commander,  Post  97, 
G.  A.  R. 

Smith,  Frank  B.;  40,  M.;  jeweller,  Belchertown;  June  21, '61; 

N.  F.  R. 

Smith,  Lathrop,  b.  Conway;  24,  S.;  teamster,  Northampton; 
June  21,  '61;  d.  Sept.  10,  '61,  Brightwood,  D.  C.;  bur. 
Northampton. 

Stall,  Frederick;    22,  — ;  — ,  Northampton;    N.   F.   R. 

save,  "Honorably  dis.  July  13,  '61;"  letter,  W.  D.,  June 
24,  1903;    rep.  d'.  1906.     Also  "Stahl." 

Stanley,  Edward  H.,  b.  Amherst;  23,  M.;  baggage  master, 
Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  d.  July  27,  '62,  Harrison's 
Landing. 

Strong,  George,  b.  Belchertown;  18,  S.;  carriage  painter, 
Belchertown;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  21,  '61,  disa. 

Strong,  Wm.  L.,  b.  Northampton;  35,  S.;  laborer,  Northamp 
ton;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  1896. 

Taylor,  Russell,  (R),  b.  Boston;  18,  S.;  clerk,  Boston;  Sept. 
19,  '61;  wd.  arm,  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  Oct.  31, 
'62,  disa.;  in  1880,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Thayer,  George  L.,  (Wagoner),  b.  Greenfield;  24,  S.;  team 
ster,  Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  June  24,  '63,  disa.; 
in  1909,  909  Lafayette  Ave.,  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Thayer,  Josiah,  b.  Belchertown;  20,  S.;  laborer,  Amherst; 
'June  21,  '61;  wd.  May  3,  '63,  Salem  Heights;  d.  from 
same,  May  25,  '63,  hosp.,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Thayer,  Munroe  H.,  (R),  b.  Roxbury;    18,  S.;   farmer,  North- 


398  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

ampton;  Mar.  29,  '62;  trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.; 
he  appears  in  that  regiment  as  "unassigned  recruit" 
and  has  no  M.  O. 

Tuttle,  James;  28,  — ;  ,  Northampton;  June  21,  '61; 

N.  F.  R. 

Van  Horn,  Alfred,  b.  South  Deerfield;  23,  S.;  broom  maker, 
Hadley;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Dec.  31,  '62,  disa.;  d.  1890. 

Walker,  Myron  P.,  (Mus.)  b.  Belchertown;  14,  S.;  -  — » 
Belchertown;  June  4,  '61;  drummer  boy  for  Co.  D, 
lOthReg't.  M.V.M.  When  the  war  began,  he  was  anxious  to 
go  with  his  fellows,  but  they  being  slow  in  enlisting,  he 
accompanied  a  number  of  the  Belchertown  men  to  Spring 
field  and  enlisted,  with  parental  consent  in  Co.  C,  where, 
the  youngest  member  of  the  Regiment,  he  did  his  duty 
in  a  manly  manner;  when  his  enlistment  was  about  half 
out,  he  conceived  the  idea  of  a  trip  home  so,  with  his 
application  for  a  furlough  of  twenty  days  in  hand,  he 
first  obtained  the  consent  of  his  regimental  commander, 
thence  to  brigade  and  division  commanders,  and  finally, 
to  General  E.  D.  Keyes,  Commander  of  the  Corps,  all  of 
whom  consented,  thus  accomplishing  in  two  hours  what, 
through  ordinary  channels,  would  have  taken  as  many 
days,  possibly  as  many  weeks;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  went 
to  California,  '68;  for  ten  years  in  the  insurance  business, 
returning  to  Mass,  in  1878;  in  that  decade  he  was  actively 
connected  with  the  National  Guard  of  California,  holding 
the  Com.  of  Captain,  June  6,  '73;  Major,  June  10,  '74; 
in  Mass,  he  was  Colonel  and  A.  A.  Gen'l.  on  the  staff  of 
Gov.  George  D.  Robinson,  '86;  member  of  the  State 
Senate  '85  and  '86;  in  '88  was  Commander,  Department 
of  Mass.,  G.  A.  R. ;  in  1908,  manufacturer,  Belchertown, 
with  office  in  Springfield. 

Warner,  Horace  A.,  b.  Cabot,  Vt.;  28,  M.;  weaver,  Holyoke; 
June  21,  '61;  wd.  leg,  Malvern  Hill;  dis.  Aug.  12,  '62, 
disa.;  in  1873,  overseer,  Taunton;  rep.  d.  1898. 

Warner,  Jonathan  D.,  b.  Hatfield;  44,  S.;  clerk,  Hatfield; 
June  21,  '61;  Hos.  Steward,  Oct.  10,  '62;  rep.,  d.  1903. 

Wells,  George  C.,  b.  Amherst;  20,  S.;  clerk,  Northampton; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  as  Corp.,  July  1,  '64;  rep.  d.  1901. 

White,  Francis  M.,  b.  Hadley;  19,  S.;  broom-maker,  Hadley; 
June  21,  61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks. 

Whitney,  Edwin  M.,   (Corp.),  b.  Woodstock,  Conn.;    25,  S.; 


COMPANY  D  399 

jeweller,  Williamsburg;  June  21,  '61;  Sergt.,  Oct.  28, '61; 
wd.  face,  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  First  Sergt.,  Aug.  9, 
'62;  prom.  First  Lieut. 

Whitney,  John,  (R),  29,  S.;  laborer,  Bennington,  Vt.;  Dec. 
23,  '63,  cr.  Northampton;  trans.  June  21,  '64,  37th  Mass.; 
trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  had 
served  in  2nd  N.  Y.  Volunteers. 

Wiley,  Frank,  b.  Belchertown;  24,  S.;  laborer,  Belchertown; 
June  21,  '61;  becoming  ill  in  camp,  he  had  rec'd.  a  leave 
of  absence,  and  was  on  his  way  home  when  he  d.  Oct. 
18,  '62,  in  New  York  City. 

Wiley,  Nelson  O.,  b.  Belchertown;  22,  S.;  hostler,  Belcher 
town;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  rep.  d.  1903. 

Williams,  Sidney  S.,  (Sergt.),  23,  S.;  telegrapher,  Northamp 
ton;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  right  elbow,  May  31,  '62,  Fair 
Oaks;  captured,  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania;  at  first  in 
Andersonville,  was  sent  to  Florence,  S.  C.,  in  Sept., 
whence  he  escaped  on  Sept.  19;  recaptured  in  Sampson 
County,  N.  C.,  November ;  carried  to  Wilmington,  in  jail  two 
or  three  weeks,  thence  was  sent  to  Florence  again,  re 
maining  till  Feb.,  '65;  went  thence  to  Wilmington  for  ex 
change,  but  was  suddenly  sent  back  into  the  country; 
once  more  he  escaped  and  spent  days  and  nights  in  the 
swamps,  until  Wilmington  fell  into  the  hands  of  Sherman 
and  his  men  when,  Feb.  22,  '65,  he  at  last  found  himself 
under  the  Stars  and  Stripes;  dis.  April  25,  '65,  as  First 
Sergt.;  in  1909,  harness  manufacturer,  Providence,  R.  I. 

Wilsea,  Berea  M.,  b  Troy,  N.  Y.;  22,  M.;  weaver,  Adams, 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Wright,  Frederick  C.,  b.  Northampton;  22,  S.;  clerk,  North 
ampton;  June  21,  '61;  was  offered  the  position  of  Com. 
Sergt.,  but  preferred  the  ranks  and  the  prospects  of 
active  service;  by  special  order,  No.  115,  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  he  was  dis.  Oct.  26,  '61,  for  Com.  as  Second 
Lieut.,  27th  Mass.;  prom.  First  Lieut.,  Oct.  30,  '62;  and 
for  a  time  commanded  his  company;  wd.  June  6,  '64, 
Cold  Harbor;  d.  from  wd.,  June  27,  hosp.,  Washington; 
bur.  June  30,  '64,  from  Unitarian  church,  Northampton. 

COMPANY  D,  PITTSFIELD,  POLLOCK  GUARD 

The  first  town  in  Western  Massachusetts  to  furnish  a  Com 
pany  under  the  first  call,  that  of  April  15,  '61,  was  Pittsfield, 


400  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

the  Allen  guard  under  the  command  of  Captain  Henry  S. 
Briggs,  afterwards  Colonel  of  the  Tenth,  had^hardly  departed 
before  measures  were  taken  to  organize  another  Company. 
George  H.  Laflin  and  Thomas  Colt  were  commissioned  by 
Governor  Andrew  to  recruit  and  organize  such  a  body  for 
service  in  the  field.  For  this  purpose  a  recruiting  office  was 
opened  in  West's  Hall,  the  new  Company  receiving  the  name 
of  the  Pollock  Guard,  in  honor  of  William  Pollock,  Esq.,  a 
very  prominent  citizen  of  Pittsfield  who  gave  the  sum  of  one 
thousand  dollars  to  begin  with.  In  a  single  week,  the  enroll 
ment  went  up  to  sixty  names,  the  most  of  the  men  being  from 
Pittsfield,  but  neighboring  towns  were  also  contributors. 
May  second,  the  Company  went  into  barracks  in  Agricultural 
Hall,  using  the  south  wing  for  a  drill  room,  the  north  for  the 
the  commissary  quarters  and  the  west  for  a  dormitory.  For 
drill-master,  Thomas  W.  Clapp,  formerly  a  cadet  at  West 
Point,  was  selected  and  a  liberal  donation  of  blankets  was 
made  by  the  citizens. 

Saturday,  May  4,  came  the  election  of  officers,  resulting  in 
Thomas  W.  Clapp 's  receiving  the  captaincy,  with  Charles 
Wheeler,  D wight  Hubbard  and  George  E.  Hager,  First,  Second 
and  Third  Lieutenants,  respectively.  Evidently  the  time 
of  the  recruits  was  largely  devoted  to  drill  and  the  school  of 
soldier,  since  the  annalist  of  the  period  has  little  to  offer 
until  Wednesday,  the  23d  of  May,  when,  at  a  town  meeting,  a 
report  was  read  by  the  committee  appointed  April  18  to  pro 
vide  for  the  comfort  of  the  soldiers.  It  was  reported  that  a 
contract  had  been  made  with  Andrew  Beebe  to  furnish  food 
for  the  Pollock  Guard  at  the  rate  of  two  dollars  and  twenty- 
five  cents  per  week  for  each  soldier.  This  contract  required 
the  weekly  expenditure  of  $180.00  while  the  Guard  remained 
in  camp.  Contracts  also  had  been  made  for  the  supply  of 
clothing,  calling  for  about  $400.00  in  addition  to  the  $1,000.00 
already  given  by  Mr.  Pollock.  It  was  also  stated  that,  in  the 
selection  of  recruits  for  the  Company,  care  had  been  taken  to 
enlist  only  those  men  whose  families  would  be  unlikely  to 
require  aid  during  the  enlistment. 

The  first  public  appearance  of  the  Company  was  Saturday, 
the  25th  of  May,  when  the  men,  bright  in  their  new  uniforms, 
paraded  through  the  streets  exciting  much  enthusiasm  by 
their  excellent  marching  and  generally  fine  appearance.  A 
pleasing  feature  of  the  parade  was  a  visit  to  the  home  of  Mr. 
William  Pollock,  the  generous  patron  of  the  Company,  who 
received  the  soldiers  and  entertained  them  most  hospitably. 


COMPANY  D  401 

It  was  evening  before  the  men  returned  to  their  quarters 
known  as  Camp  Pollock.  The  next  day,  being  Sunday,  the 
Guard  attended  service  at  the  First  Congregational  Church 
and  listened  to  an  appropriate  discourse  by  the  pastor,  the 
famous  Dr.  John  Todd. 

That  the  comfort  and  health  of  the  men  were  uppermost 
in  the  feelings  of  the  citizens,  was  apparent  in  a  variety  of 
ways,  especially  so  when  we  find  ladies  constituting  them 
selves    a   committee   for   the   purpose    of   furnishing   flannel 
clothing,  havelocks  and  other  articles,  likely  to  contribute  to 
the  good  of  the  recruits  to  whom,  as  yet,  war  was  an  untried 
reality.     The  names  of  these  patriotic  ladies  were  Mrs.  Gilbert 
C.  West,  Mrs.  E.  B.  Oliver,  Mrs.  John  C.  West,  Mrs.  S.  V.  R. 
Daniels,  Mrs.  Dr.  A.  N.  Allen,  Mrs.  Joseph  Gregory,  Mrs.  Wm. 
G.  Backus,  Mrs.  John  M.  Rowland,  Mrs.  L.  G.  Lloyd,  Mrs. 
Wm.  M.  Wells,  Mrs.   D.  J.   Dodge.     On  the  30th,  Pittsfield 
ladies  visited  the  camp  and  varied  the  monotony  of  regular 
rations  by  serving  a  supper  of  their  own  preparation.    Younger 
ladies,  pupils  in  the  Mendelssohn  Musical  Institute,  together 
with  their  teachers  gave  a  fine  army  revolver  to  Captain  Clapp 
and  otherwise  assisted  their  Pittsfield  friends  in  caring  for  the 
newly  enlisted  men.    Nor  were  the  students  in  the  Maplewood 
Institute  for  girls  lacking  in  appreciation  of  their  opportuni 
ties,  for  they  gave  to  the  Guard  a  large  box  of  bandages, 
needle  books,  pin  cushions  and  other  items,  each  useful  in  its 
way.     In  return  for  so  many  expressions  of  kindness  from  the 
good  people  of  Pittsfield,  it  was  the  fortunate  lot  of  the  soldiers 
to  be  able  to  return  some  of  the  favors  in  kind,  for  when  the 
mills  of  the  Pittsfield  Woolen  Company,  opposite  the  Agri 
cultural  Grounds  were  burned,  the  men  won  the  admiration 
of  all  in  their  daring  efforts  to  rescue  property  from  destruction. 
The   day   of  departure  came  June    15th,   when,   after  the 
march  down  Morton  Place  to  the  station,  cars  were  taken  for 
the  ride  to  Springfield,  being  the  last  of  the  ten  companies  to 
reach  the  rendezvous.     Of  course  the  entire  town  was  out  to 
see  the  Company  off  and  with  beat  of  drum,  waving  of  hand 
kerchiefs  and  the  cheers  of  thousands  the  train  rolled  out  of 
Pittsfield.     On  reaching  their  destination  quarters  were  found 
in  Hampden  Park.     At  the  muster-in,  June  21st,  George  E. 
Hager    took    the    place    of    Dwight     Hubbard    as    Second 
Lieutenant. 


402  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

(For  full  explanation  of  abbreviations,  see  page  332.) 
COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

Thomas  W.  Clapp,  b.  Pittsfield;   31,  S.;  merchant,  Pittsfield; 

June   14,  '61;  cashiered,  Nov.  25,  '62;  S.  O.  No.  333,  W. 

D.;  in  1875,  woolen  manufacturer,  Pittsfield;  dead. 
Homer  G.  Gilmore  (F),  Nov.  26,  '62;  wd.  May  12,  '64,  at  the 

Angle,  Spottsylvania ;    M.   O.  July   1,   '64;    bvt.  Major, 

March  13,  '65;    having  joined  the  "Peabody  Guards,"  a 
•   Company  of  Civil  War  Veterans  in  Springfield,  he  was 

commissioned  First  Lieut.  Aug.   29,   '68;    commissioned 

Major,  Second  Regt.  M.  V.  M.,  March   15,   '69;    Lieut. 

Colonel,  Aug.  23,  '71;    res.  and  was  honorably  dis.  Aug. 

17,  '75;    has  resided  in  Springfield  since  the  War,  from 
1864  to  1866  in  the  employ  of  Smith  and  Wesson,  since 
then  in  the  insurance  business;  d.  Oct.  14,  1908. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS 

Charles  Wheeler,  b.  Sterling;  22,  S.;  paper  maker,  Dalton; 
June  14,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill,  left  arm 
amputated  at  shoulder;  Com.  Captain,  July  21,  '62  and 
declined;  Regimental  Quartermaster,  Oct.,  '62;  res. 
Dec.  20,  '62;  in  the  Fall  of  1863,  resided  in  Chicago  and 
was  agent  for  a  paper  warehouse;  is  said  to  have  been 
killed  two  or  three  years  since  in  a  railroad  accident. 

Mark  H.  Cotrell,  from  First  Sergt.;    Nov.  26,  '62;    wd.  May 

18,  '64,  Spottsylvania;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  farmer, 
Floyd,  Iowa;   in  1906  said  to  be  infa  western  S.  H. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS 

George  E.  Hager,  b.  Pittsfield;  20,  S.;  paper-maker,  Pitts- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  discharged  Nov.  25,  '62;  Dec.  29,  '63, 
enlisted,  Sergt.,  Co.  K,  First  Mass.  Cav.;  prisoner  in 
Richmond,  Anderson ville,  Florence  and  Charleston  from 
May  10,  '64  till  Feb.  7,  '65;  M.  O.  June  26,  '65;  Aide-de- 
Camp,  Dec.  29,  1890,  staff  of  Commander-in-Chief  W.  G. 
Veazey,  G.  A.  R. ;  Jan.  4,  1900;  Aide-de-Camp,  rank  of 
Major,  Staff  of  Gov.  W.  Murray  Crane;  in  civil  life,  paper 
maker,  Dalton;  d.  May  30,  1907. 

Elihu  B.  Whittlesey,  from  Sergt.  Maj.  (F.,  S.),  June  1,  '62; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  wool  manufacturer,  Pittsfield. 


COMPANY  D  403 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS  AND  PRIVATES 

(June  14,  date  of  reporting  in  Springfield,  is  given  rather  than  June 
21,  that  of  muster  in.) 

Adams,  Charles,  b.  Chesterfield;  20,  — ;  teamster,  Worthing- 
ton;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  March  26,  '63,  disa.;  later  Co.  C. 
1st  Mass.  Cav. 

Allen,  George  W.,  b.  Brookfield;  18,  S.;  farmer,  Brookfield; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  July  12,  '61,  disa. 

Allen,  Sylvester  W.,  b.  Hinsdale;  25,  S.;  farmer,  Hinsdale; 
June  14,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th 
Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65. 

Arbuckle,  Frederick,  b.  New  York  City;  18,  S.;  clerk,  Chico- 
pee;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill;  dis. 
Dec.  4,  '62,  disa. 

Babcock,  Wm.;  42,  M.;  blacksmith,  Dalton;  June  14,  '61; 
N.  F.  R. 

Babcock,  Wm.  N.;  b.  Dalton;  21,  S.;  shoemaker,  Dalton; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  3,  '62,  disa.;  later  in  the  Navy 
as  Charles  Nelson;  in  1873,  said  to  reside  in  Nebraska. 

Bacon,  John  H.,  (R),  b.  Auburn,  N.  Y.;  27,  — ; -,  Wash 
ington,  D.  C.;  Nov.  16,  '61;  dis.  June  18,  '62,  disa.;  1908, 
Cleveland,  Ohio. 

Bailey,  George  E.,  (Corp.),  b.  Pittsfield;  25,  S.;  mason, 
Pittsfield;  June  14,  '61;  Sergt.  Jan  1,  '63;  M.  O.  July  1, 
'64;  d.  Jan.  3,  1883,  S.  H. 

Bardwell,  Guy,  (R),  b.  Montague;  37,  M.;  farmer  Montague; 
Aug.  9,  '62;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  wd.  and  captured  May 
9,  '64,  Spottsylvania ;  d.  Nov.  21,  '64,  Florence,  S.  C. 

Bassett,  Almon,   (R),  b.    New  York   City;    20,  — ;    -  , 

Washington,  D.  C.;  June  14,  '62;  dis'.  Nov.  24,  '62,  disa;. 
had  served  three  months'  term  in  the  8th  Mass.;  Sept. 
1,  '63,  en.  in  Co.  H,  22d  Mass.;  dis.  July  1,  '64,  by  reason 
of  wd.  received  in  the  movement  from  the  Rapidan;  two 
years  later,  suffered  amputation  of  leg  on  account  of  said 
wound;  in  1875,  resided  in  Pittsfield;  1908,  Boston. 

Bidgood,  Abram,  b.  Dalton;  18,  M.;  paper  hanger,  Dalton; 
June  14,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill;  d.  Nov.  24, 
'62,  Harpers'  Ferry. 

Bolander,  Thomas,  Jr.;  19,  S.;  mechanic,  Palmer;  June  14, 
'62;  N.  F.  R. 


404 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


LIEUT.  M    H.  COTRELL  (D),  CAPT.  H.  G.  GILMORE  (D), 

WM.  A.  ASHLEY  (I), 
Q.  M-  A.  S.  MANSIR  (A),  CAPT.  FLAVEL  SHURTLEFF  (H). 

Bolter,  Peter  C.,  b.  Sorel,  Canada;  18,  S.;  operative,  Pitts- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  shoulder,  May,  '64,  Wilderness; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  Nov.,  72,  mason,  Pittsfield;  also 
found  as  Bolton;  dead. 

Boyste,  Henry,  b.  Prussia;  33,  S.;  weaver,  Providence,  R.  I.; 
June  14,  '61;  desert.  Sept.  1,  '62. 

Bradley,  Orrin  S.,  b.  North  Adams;  29,  M.;  farmer,  Cum- 
mington;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  hand,  Malvern  Hill,  at  Fred- 
ericksburg,  foot;  at  the  Wilderness,  detailed  for  duty 
in  hosp.,  there  cared  for  Major  Parker  and  Lieut.  Midge- 
ley;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  farmer,  Palmer;  dead. 

Brewer,  Alonzo  C.,  b.  Hingham;  22,  S.;  tailor,  Springfield; 
July  21,  '61;  k.  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania ;  shot  first 
in  the  bowels,  but  refused  to  leave  the  field,  five  minutes 
later  was  hit  in  the  forehead  and  instantly  killed. 


COMPANY  D  405 

Breyer,  Frank  L.,  b.  South  Adams;  23,  S. ;  teamster,  Pitts- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  June  17,  '62,  disa.;  1909,  Spring 
field. 

Brown,  Timothy,  b.  Boston;  19,  S.;  blacksmith,  Northamp 
ton;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  Dec.  23,  '62,  O.  W.  D. 

Burbank,  Samuel,  b.  New  Ashford;  20,  S.;  hackman,  Pitts- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  k.  May  10,  '64,  Spottsylvania. 

Burns,  John,  b.  Ireland;  23,  S.;  farmer,  Becket;  June  14,  '61; 
capt.  May  12,  '64;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Callahan,   Patrick,   b.    Ireland;    21,   S.;    teamster,   Cheshire; 

dis.  Nov.  12,  '62,  to  join  regular  army;   served  in  Battery 

L,  1st  U.  S.  Artillery  and  Battery  G,  2d  U.  S.  Artillery; 

M.  O.  Nov.  '65;   in  1873,  resided  in  Cheshire. 
Campbell,  John,  b.  New  York  City;  currier,  Dalton;  June  14, 

'61;    M.  O.  July  1,   '64;    in   1873,  resided  in  Pittsfield; 

rep.  d.  1907. 
Carey,  John;    20,  S.;    farmer,  Pittsfield;    June   14,   '61;    wd. 

July  1,  Malvern  Hill;    dis.  Nov.  22,  '62,  disa.;    in  1873, 

resided  in  Pittsfield. 
Cassidy,  James,   b.   Hinsdale;    24,   S.;    operative,   Pittsfield; 

June  14,  '64;    k.  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness. 
Clark,   Stephen,   b.   New  Ashford;    21,   S.;    carpenter,   New 

Ashford;   June  14,  '61;   dis.  Nov.  9,  '62,  to  en.  in  regular 

army;    in  1873,  said  to  reside  in  Tennessee. 
Collamer,   Elbridge,   b.   Washington;     18,   — . ;    lime  burner, 

Lenox;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1873,  cooper, 

West     Stockbridge;      Newell     says     "Collamore"     and 

(wagoner) . 
Collis,  Richard,  b.  London,  Eng. ;    38,  S.;    morocco  dresser, 

Boston;    June  14,  '61;    k.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill. 

Colt,  Thomas  G.,  b.  Pittsfield;  19,  S.;  clerk,  Pittsfield;  June 
14,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  5,  '62,  O.  W.  D.  for  Com.  37th  Mass. 
Adjutant;  later,  Captain  and  Asst.  Adjt.  Gen.  of  Volun 
teers;  M.  O.  June  28,  '65;  bvt.  Major  and  Lieut.  Colonel, 
Aug.  22,  '65  and  June  22,  '67;  in  1875,  merchant,  Pitts- 
field;  dead. 

Cook,  Samuel  B.,  b.  Johnston,  Vt.;  35,  M.;  operative,  Chico- 
pee;  June  14,  '61;  Company  Commissary  from  Feb.  '62 
to  end  of  service;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  overseer, 
Chicopee  Falls;  dead. 

Cotrell,  Mark  H.  (First  Sergt.),  b.  Stockbridge;   23,  S.;   clerk, 


406  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Lenox;  June  14,  '61;  before  leaving  for  the  war,  the 
citizens  of  Lenox  gave  him  a  fine  sword,  sash  and  belt; 
wd.  severely,  arm,  Fair  Oaks;  prom.  First  Lieut. 

Cousens,  George  W.,  b.  Grafton,  N.  Y.;  18,  S.;  spinner,  South 
Adams;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  d.  as  Sergt.,  at 
Chicopee  Falls,  of  wounds  received  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness. 

Crossett,  Frederick,  b.  South  Adams;  27,  S.;  farmer,  South 
Adams;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  June  13,  '62,  disa.;  in  1873, 
said  to  reside  in  South  Adams. 

Curry,  James,  b.  Ireland;  22,  S.;  operative,  Hinsdale,;  June 
14,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  12,  '62,  O.  W.  D.  to  en.  U.  S.  A.;  when 
last  heard  from  was  in  Battery  G,  Second  Artillery,  Cal. 

Daily,  John  C.,  (R),  b.  Ireland;  23,  M.;  butcher,  Pittsfield; 
Feb.  19,  '62;  dis.  Oct.  20,  '62,  disa. 

Dalton,  James,  b.  Ireland;  40,  S.;  laborer,  Springfield;  June 
14,  '61;  dis.  Sept.  19,  '62,  disa. 

Davis,  Henry  R.,  (Corp.),  b.  Pittsfield;  22,  S.;  teamster, 
Pittsfield;  June  14,  '61;  Sergt.  April  1,  '63;  capt.  May 
12,  '64,  Spottsylvania  and  held  till  Feb.  14,  '65;  absent 
at  M.  O.  though  his  dis.  was  dated  back;  in  1873,  resided 
Pittsfield;  1907,  N.  S.  H.,  Togus,  Me. 

Donovan,  John,  b.  Leominster;  24,  S.;  farmer,  Cummington; 
June  14,  '61;  k.  May  3,  '63,  Salem  Heights. 

Dudley,  Charles,  b.  Pittsfield;  23,  M.;  blacksmith,  Pittsfield; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  13,  '62,  disa.;  later  in  Co.  C,  49th 
Mass.,  and  Co.  A,  57th  Mass. 

Duffee,  Thomas,  b.  Ireland;  19,  S.;  operative,  Pittsfield; 
June  14,  '61;  Corp.  Jan.  1,  '63;  capt.  May  12,  '64,  Spott 
sylvania;  presumably  absent  at  M.  O.;  Newell  says 
"k.  at  Spottsylvania;"  Newell  says  "Duffy." 

Dunbar,  Charles,  b.  Springfield;  22,  S.;  currier,  Springfield; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  24,  '63,  disa;  in  1873,  said  to 
reside  in  Boston. 

Emmons,  Monroe,  b.  Springfield;  22,  S.;  clerk,  Hinsdale; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  March  17,  '62,  disa.;  d.  Hinsdale, 
during  the  War. 

Fairchilds,  Crowell,  b.  Lee;  19,  S.;  farmer,  Lee;  June  14,  '61; 
wd.  Malvern  Hill;  dis.  July  22,  '62,  disa.;  in  1873,  said  to 
reside  in  Lee. 

Fiero,  Frederick  L.,  b.  Saugerties,  N.  Y.;    21,  S.;    butcher, 


COMPANY  D  407 

Dalton;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  4,  '61,  disa.;  later,  Co.  B, 
8th  Mass.,  100  days;    d.,  no  date,  S.  H. 

Finnican,  James,  b.  Ireland;  18,  S.;  clerk,  Pittsfield;  June 
14,  '61;  wd.  hand,  Salem  Heights  and  again,  Wilderness; 
M.  O.  as  Corp.,  July  1,  '64;  later  in  V.  R.  C. ;  d.  Pittsfield; 
Newell  has  Finucane. 

Gardner,  Edward,  b.  Westmoreland,  N.  H.;  18,  S.;  farmer, 
Conway;  June  14,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks. 

Goodale,  Charles  T.,  b.  New  Ashford;  26,  M.;  mechanic, 
New  Ashford;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  Malvern  Hill;  trans. 
July  1,  '63,  V.  R.  C.;  dis.  March  1,  '65,  disa.;  in  1873, 
said  to  reside  in  Cohoes,  N.  Y.;  also  Charles  L. 

Green,  Jerry,  b.  New  Lebanon,  N.  Y. ;  22,  S. ;  hackman,  Pitts- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  hand,  Salem  Heights;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64;  later  in  Co.  M,  3d  Mass.  Cav.;  M.  O.  Sept. 
'65;  in  1873,  patent  roofing  business,  Pittsfield;  d. 
Adams. 

Grifhn,  Nelson  N.,  b.  Lanesboro;  23,  S.;  farmer,  Steventown, 
N.  Y.;  June  14,  '61;  k.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill. 

Hamill,  David,  b.  Lee;  18,  S.;  farmer,  Springfield;  June  14, 
'61;  re.  Jan.  20,  '64,  cr.  Windsor;  wd.  May  1,  '64,  Wilder 
ness;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  Jan.  10,  '65, 
V.  R.  C.;  in  1873,  said  to  reside  in  Stuyvesant. 

Hand,  Sherman  P.,  (Sergt.),  b.  New  Lebanon,  N.  Y. ;  28,  S.; 
teacher,  Humboldt,  Kan.;  June  14,  '61;  cr.  Springfield; 
re.  Jan.  20,  '63;  dis.  March  21,  '64,  for  Com.  Second 
Lieut.,  Co.  E.  43d  U.  S.  Col.  Troops;  wd.  hand  and  side, 
July  30,  '64,  mine  explosion,  Petersburg,  and  capt.;  held 
a  prisoner  seven  months;  res.  May  2,  '65;  having  gone 
to  Kansas  in  1856,  he  had  been  an  active  participant  in 
all  of  the  troubles  there  till  he  came  East  to  enlist;  in 
1873,  farmer  and  gardener,  Binghamton,  N.  Y.;  rep.  d. 
1901. 

Heffron,  Levi,  b.  Brattleboro,  Vt.;  21,  S.;  farmer,  Brattle- 
boro;  June  14,  '61;  Corp.  Jan.  1,  '63;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
in  1873,  said  to  be  in  Frederick,  Md. 

Hemmenway,  Alfred  C.,  b.  Nassau,  N.  Y.;  18,  S.;  farmer, 
Pittsfield;  June  14,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks. 

Hemmenway,  Harrison,  (R),  b.  Nassau,  N.  Y. ;  21,  — ;  manu 
facturer,  Pittsfield;  April  4,  '62;  trans.  June  19,  '64, 
37th  Mass;  1909,  Pittsfield. 


408  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Hemmenway,  Haskell,  (Sergt.),  b.  East  Nassau,  N.  Y.;  19,  S.; 
clerk,  Pittsfield;  June  14,  '61;  k.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill. 
Hibbard,  Gardner  B.,  (Corp.);  19,  S.;  mechanic,  Pittsfield; 
June  21,  '61;  d.  Oct.  11,  '61,  Washington,  Columbia 
Hosp.;  he  was  the  first  soldier  from  Pittsfield  to  die;  his 
remains  reached  his  home  Oct.  15th  and  the  funeral 
sermon  was  preached  by  the  Rev.  John  Todd;  State 
House  Rolls  give  death,  "Nov.  13." 

Hines,  Henry  P.,  b.  Lenox;  24,  S.;  farmer,  Lenox;  June  14, 
'61;  trans.  Nov.  23,  '63,  V.  R.  C.;  in  1873,  said  to  be  in 
Lenox. 

Hogan,  Michael  S.,  b.  Goshen;  24,  — ;  currier,  Hinsdale; 
June  14,  '61;  mortally  wounded  as  First  Sergt.,  both  legs, 
Salem  Heights;  d.  May  24,  '63,  Washington. 

Howard,  Henry  N.,  b.  Grafton;  20,  S.;  button  maker,  North 
ampton;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill; 
dis.  no  date,  disa.;  died  before  1875. 

Hubbard,  Dwight,  (Sergt.),  b.  Chester;  26,  S.;  civil  engineer, 
Pittsfield;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  Feb.  15,  '63,  disa.;  in  1873, 
teacher,  Pittsfield. 

Irving,  William,  b.  Bridgeport,  Conn.;  22,  S.;  fireman,  Pitts- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  arm,  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks; 
trans.  April  8,  '64,  U.  S.  Navy;  dis.  May  13,  '65;  d.  July 
21,  '68,  Troy,  N.  Y. 

Jenne,  Wm.  L.,  b.  Lenox;  20,  S.;  miller,  Lenox;  June  14,  '61; 
wd.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  after  the  battle,  carried  off 
the  field  by  Lieut.  Eccleston,  36th  N.  Y.;  dis.  July  18, 
'62,  disa.;  later  in  57th  Mass.;  M.  O.  June  9,  '65;  in 
1873,  carpenter,  Lenox;  1907,  Lenox. 

Johnson,  John,  (R),  N.  F.  R.  save  desert.  May  5,  '63;  M.  R. 
No.  18. 

Johnston,  John  B.,  (Mus.),  15,  S.;  tobacco  worker,  Washing 
ton,  D.  C.;  Aug.  1,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1873,  said 
to  reside  in  Philadelphia. 

Jones,  John,  b.  Pittsfield;  18,  S.;  clerk,  Pittsfield;  June  14, 
'61;  re.  March  23,  '64,  cr.  West  Springfield;  trans.  June 
19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  prom.  Corp.;  trans.  June  21,  '65, 
20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  1908,  West  Somerville. 

Kellogg,  George  S.,  b.  Bennington,  Vt.;  19,  — ;  -  — ,  Pitts- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  Corp.,  July  1,  '63;  wd.  lung,  May, 
'64,  Wilderness;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  resides,  1907,  Bald 
win,  N.  Y. 


COMPANY  D  409 

Lane,  Wm.  T.,  b.  Pittsfield;  43,  M.;  shoemaker,  Pittsfield, 
June  28,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  before  1875. 

Lantrell,  James;  20,  S.;  tailor,  Springfield;  June  20,  '61; 
desert.  July,  '61. 

Larkin,  Thos.  G.,  b.  Ireland;  30,  M.;  cooper,  Pittsfield;  June 
14,  '61;  wd.  leg,  May  3,  '62,  Salem  Heights;  M.  O.  July 
1,  '64;  in  1873,  said  to  reside  in  Lenox;  dead. 

Loomis,  Daniel,  b.  Richmond;  18,  S.;  farmer,  Pittsfield; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  9,  '62,  O.  W.  D.,  to  en.  in  regular 
Army;  in  1873,  said  to  be  in  Omaha,  Neb. 

Martin,  John,  b.  Ireland;  19,  S.;  paper  maker,  Pittsfield; 
June  14,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  desert.  March  18,  '64. 

Mason,  Franklin  B.,  b.  Windsor;  20,  M.;  carpenter,  Windsor; 
June  14,  '61;  wd.  hand,  Fair  Oaks  and  foot,  Gettysburg; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  later  in  Co.  I,  Sixth  U.  S.  Vet.  Vols.; 
in  1873,  clerk,  North  Adams. 

Meyer,  Carl  B.,  (R),  b.  Germany;  29,  S.;  shoemaker,  Boston ; 
Jan.  25,  '64,  cr.  Cambridge;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th 
Mass.;  trans.  July  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65; 
d.  Chicopee. 

Morley,  Edward  M.,  (R),  b.  West  Springfield;   18,  — ;  - 

Greenfield;  Sept.  9,  '61;  re.  Jan.  22,  '64,  cr.  West  Spring 
field;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  d.  City  Point,  Va., 
April  21,  '65,  from  wds.  received  April  6,  '65. 

Mullett,  Daniel  A.,  b.  Newfane,  Vt.;  18,  S.;  operative,  Pitts- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  capt.  May  18,  '64;  d.  in  hands  of  the 
enemy;  State  House  rolls  say,  "M.  O.  July  1,  '64." 

Mullett,  John  S.,  b.  Dudley;   40,  M.;   fuller,  Pittsfield;   June 

14,  '61;   M.  O.  July  1,  '64;   d.  before  1875. 
Mungan,  Daniel,  b.  New  Lebanon,  N.  Y.;    18,  S.;    farmer, 

New  Lebanon,  N.  Y.;  June  14,  '61;  desert.  Nov.  30,  '61; 

in    1873,    said   to   be    in    Philadelphia;     also    found    as 

"Mangan." 

Munroe,  Edward  J.;  N.  F.  R.  save,  dis.  July  18,  '61,  disa. 
Murphy,  Patrick,  b.  Greenfield;   19,  S.;  mechanic,  Greenfield; 

June   14,   '61;    re.   Jan.   20,   '64,   cr.   Springfield;    trans. 

June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.; 

M.  O.  July  16,  '65. 
Murphy,   Timothy,    (Corp.),   b.    Pittsfield;     20,    S.;    farmer, 

Pittsfield;    June    14,    '61;    desert.   Aug.    '62,   Harrison's 

Landing,  Va.;   in  1873,  said  to  be  in  San  Francisco,  Cal. 


410 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


WM.  SHAFTOE,  JR., 
G.  S.  KELLOGG, 


H.  D.  NEWTON, 
LIEUT.  G.  E.  HAGER. 


Newton,  Edwin,  (Wagoner),  b.  Framingham ;  22,  S.;  team 
ster,  Framingham ;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in 
187.3,  said  to  reside  in  Medford. 

Newton,  Henry  D.,  b.  Pittsfield;  25,  M.;  carpenter,  Pitts- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  Dec.  28,  '62,  disa.;  in  1873,  in 
Pittsfield;  d.  Pittsfield,  Sept.  29,  1908. 

Noble,  Henry,  b.  Lanesboro;  27,  S.;  seaman,  Pittsfield; 
June  14,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Lanesboro;  d.  hosp., 
June  2,  '64,  from  wd.  received  May  12,  at  Spottsylvania ; 
State  House  rolls  say,  "k.  May  12;"  had  served  three 
years  in  the  Navy  before  the  War. 

O'Sullivan,  John,  b.  Bantry  Bay,  Ireland;  40,  M.;  black 
smith,  Becket;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  July  24,  '63,  disa.; 
later  served  in  the  57th  Mass. ;  is  said  to  have  been  born 
Christmas  Day,  1803;  to  have  served  in  the  Mexican 
War;  to  have  been  wounded  while  in  the  Tenth  and  also 
at  the  Wilderness,  while  in  the  57th;  he  fought  in  the 


COMPANY  D  411 

ranks  at  Fair  Oaks  and  at  Malvern,  but  for  the  most  of 

his  time  in  the  10th,  was  Brigade  blacksmith;    in  1873, 

in  Becket;    dead. 
Packard,  Charles,  b.  Avon,  N.  Y.;  22,  S.;  teamster,  Pittsfield; 

June  14,  '61;   re.  Dec.  21,  '63;   trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th 

Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65; 

in  1873,  brakeman,  Pittsfield. 
Palmer,    Charles    G.,    b.    Northampton;     19,    S.;     carpenter, 

Palmer;   June  14,  '61;    dis.  Nov.  26,  '62,  disa.;    in  1873, 

said  to  reside  in  Palmer. 
Perry,  Charles  W.,  b.  Lenox;    27,  S.;    butcher,  Lenox;    June 

"14,  '61;   M.  O.  July  1,  '64;   d.  February,  1873. 

Pierce,  Orlando  W.,  b.  Windsor;  21,  S.;  farmer,  Windsor; 
June  14,  '61;  Sergt.,  July,  '62;  First  Sergt.,  Aug.  14,  '63; 
re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  wd.  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness;  trans. 
June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  Jan.  19,  '65,  V.  R.  C.; 
in  1873,  expressman,  Jackson,  Mich. 

Potter,  Charles,  b.  Greenfield;  19,  S.;  blacksmith,  Green 
field;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill;  dis. 
on  account  of  wd.  Jan.  1,  '63;  d.  N.  S.  H.,  Togus,  Me., 
Oct.  3,  1869. 

Ouinn,  John  W.,  b.  Augusta,  Me.;  21,  — ;  groom,  Springfield; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  24,  '62,  disa. 

Randall,  James  M.,  b.  South  Adams;  21,  S.;  farmer,  Adams; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  Feb.  24,  '63,  disa.;  rep.  d.  1907. 

Randall,  Levi,  (R),  b.  Adams;  21,  — ;  farmer,  Washington, 
D.  C.;  Feb.  13,  '62;  dis.  May  1,  '62,  disa.;  rep.  d.  1907. 

Reardon,  Daniel,  b.  Pittsfield;   22,  S.;  cigar  maker,  Pittsfield; 

June  14,  '61;    dis.  Aug.   10,  '63,  disa.;    in  1873,  moulder, 

South  Adams;    rep.  d.   1900. 
Riley,  Thomas,  b.  Pittstown,  N.  Y. ;    18,  S.;   laborer,  Adams; 

June  14,  '61;    wd.  right  knee,  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill, 

and  taken  as  prisoner  to  Richmond;  dis.  March  23,  '63, 

disa.;  later  in  Co.  K,  Ninth  Vt.;  in  1873,  moulder,  South 

Adams;  rep.  d.  1907. 
Ross,  John  H.,  b.  Sharpsburg,  Vt.;   26,  S.;   laborer,  Pittsfield; 

June  14,  '61;    dropped  from  rolls,  O.  W.  D.  Dec.  6,  '63; 

in  1873  in  Pittsfield. 
Roth,    Clifton    L.,    b.    Hinsdale;     23,    S.;    farmer,    Hinsdale; 

June  14,  '61;    k.  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness. 
Ryan,  Richard,  b.  Ireland;    27,  S.:    laborer,  Pittsfield;  June 


412  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Spottsylvania ;  before  the  fight,  he  said  to  his  comrade 
14,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Agawam;  k.  May  12,  '64, 
Wheeler  that  he  did  not  expect  to  come  out  alive,  and 
asked  him  to  take  charge  of  some  small  articles.  Wheeler 
took  them  and  saw  Ryan  killed  within  three  feet  of  him 
self. 

Sawyer,  Lorenzo  L.,  b.  Lakeville;  18,  S.;  farmer,  Lakeville; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  July  12,  '61,  disa. 

Shaftoe,  Wm.,  Jr.,  b.  Schaghticoke,  N.  Y. ;  18,  S.;  printer, 
Adams;  June  14,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  19, 
'64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O. 
July  16,  '65;  Com.  Sergt.  Brigade  Headquarters  when 
dis.;  in  1908,  Elmira,  N.  Y. 

Shaw,  Charles  H.,  b.  Cummington;  21,  S.;  blacksmith,  Cum- 
mington;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  right  ankle,  May  5,  '64, 
Wilderness;  ab.  at  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  laid  up  by  wd.  till 
Sept.  '65;  in  1869,  lawyer,  Meriden,  Conn. 

Shaw,  James  M.,  b.  New  York  City;  21,  S.;  farmer,  Hinsdale; 
June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1873,  farmer,  Hinsdale. 

Smith,  John  W.,  (Corp),  b.  Pittsfield;  18,  S.;  farmer,  Pitts- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  9,  '62  to  en.  regular  Army, 
O.  W.  D. ;  d.  in  the  service. 

Smith,  Walter  B.,  (Corp.),  b.  New  Market,  N.  H.;  31,  — ; 
— ,  Washington,  D.  C.;  Aug.  12,  '61;  wd.  shoulder 
May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  prom.  Second  Lieut.,  37th  Mass., 
Aug.  27,  '62;  prom.  First  Lieut.,  April  5,  '64;  prom. 
Captain,  March  4,  '65;  wd.  groin,  April,  '65,  Sailor's 
Creek;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65; 
in  1908,  clerk  of  District  Court,  Pittsfield. 

Solon,  James,  b.  Ireland;  21,  S.;  blacksmith,  Chicopee;  June 
14,  '61;  Corp.  Jan.  1,  '63;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1873, 
in  Pittsfield;  dead. 

Stockbridge,  Lyman,  b.  Pittsfield;  25,  S.;  hackman,  Pitts- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1873,  in  Pitts- 
field;  dead. 

Timothy,  Michael,  b.  Ireland;  30,  S.;  farmer,  Northampton; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  20,  '62,  disa.;  d.  N.  S.  H.,  Dayton, 
Ohio,  Jan.  24,  1895. 

Tyler,  Daniel  W.,  b.  Leominster;  27,  M.;  paper  maker, 
Dalton;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  13,  '62,  disa.;  in  1873, 
paper  maker,  Dalton. 


COMPANY  E  413 

Vetter,  Jacob,  (R),  b.  Germany;  21,  — ;  manufacturer,  Pitts- 
field;  Feb.  13,  '62;  dis.  Aug.  29,  '62,  disa. 

Vickery,  Myron  D.,  b.  Nassau,  N.  Y.;  25,  S.;  farmer,  Steven- 
town,  N.  Y.;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  9,  '62,  disa.;  Newell 
says,  "trans.  Battery  D,  Second  U.  S.  Artillery." 

Videtto,  Wm.  H.,  b.  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. ;  27,  — ;  gas  fitter,  Pitts- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  trans.  June  27,  '64,  Co.  H.  24th 
V.  R.  C.;  d.  since  the  War. 

Walker,  Andrew,  (Mus.),  b.  New  York  City;  16,  S.;  farmer, 
Hinsdale;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  3,  '62,  disa. 

Ward,  John  B.,  b.  Suffield,  Conn.;  23,  S.;  farmer,  Sufrield, 
Conn.;  June  14,  '61;  desert.  June  25,  '61. 

Warner,  John,  b.  St.  Louis,  Mo.;  18,  S.;  painter,  Holyoke; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  9,  '62  to  en.  U.  S.  Artillery, 
O.  W.  D. 

Wetherbee,  James,  b.  Athol;  35,  S.;  carpenter,  Pittsfield; 
June  14,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Agawam;  wd.  May  6, 
'64,  Wilderness;  ab.  at  M.  O.,  not  returning  for  duty  till 
Sept.  15,  in  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.; 
M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in  1873,  carpenter,  Savoy;  rep.  d. 
1904. 

Wheeler,  James  W.,  b.  New  York  City;  23,  S.;    blacksmith, 

New  Ashford;    June   14,  '61;    Corp.  April  1,  '63;    Sergt., 

June   1,  '63;   M.  O.  July  1,  '64;   in  1873,  farmer,  Wood- 
ville,  Miss. 

WTright,  Jasper,  b.  Rocky  Hill,  Conn.;  25,  S.;  farmer,  Rocky 
Hill,  Conn.;  June  14,  '61;  desert.  Nov.  22,  '61. 

COMPANY  E,  SPRINGFIELD 

In  the  earliest  days  of  the  war,  Hampden  County  was 
ambitious  and  undertook  to  raise  a  regiment  to  be  known  as 
the  Hampden  County  Regiment  and,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Rev.  Frederick  A.  Barton  of  Indian  Orchard,  a  movement 
to  this  end  was  started.  Two  companies  were  nearly  com 
pleted  and  were  camping  in  Hampden  Park,  Springfield, 
when  the  authorities  in  Boston  ended  these  plans  by  accepting 
the  six  Companies  of  the  Tenth  Regiment  of  militia  and,  by 
the  addition  of  the  Companies  of  Great  Barrington,  Pittsfield 
and  North  Adams  and  this  organization,  the  number  was 
complete,  the  second  Springfield  Company,  under  Captain 


414  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Oliver  Edwards,  being  broken  up  and  added  to  the  other 
companies  not  quite  up  to  the  standard,  the  Captain  becoming 
Regimental  Adjutant. 

The  organization  was  effected  in  May  with  Frederic  Barton 
as  Captain  and  the  Lieutenants  were  Byron  Porter,  Wallace 
A.  Putnam,  George  W.  Porter  and  S.  C.  Warriner  in  First, 
Second,  Third  and  Fourth  order.  As  has  been  seen  in  other 
cases,  the  government  not  accepting  so  many  junior  officers, 
the  Third  and  Fourth  Lieutenants  lapsed  into  the  ranks 
where  they  gave  good  accounts  of  themselves.  The  First 
Sergeant  was  Edwin  L.  Knight  who  soon  received  a  commis 
sion  and  was  long  in  command  of  the  Company.  Saturday, 
June  1,  the  men  were  made  happy  by  the  reception  of  their 
new  uniforms,  gray,  trimmed  with  black  and  in  their  bright 
dress  attended  church  the  following  day.  They  were  the 
observed  of  all  observers,  as  they  paraded,  not  in  their  suits 
of  blue,  but  in  the  very  shade  of  gray  they  were  to  spend  three 
valuable  years,  and  many  of  their  young  lives  in  opposing. 
Their  experience  in  camp  was  not  unlike  that  of  other  com 
panies  already  described,  save  that  they  were  already  at  the 
rendezvous  and  had  the  pleasure  of  welcoming  all  the  others, 
being  the  first  in  the  county  to  go  into  camp  and  organize.  It 
was  made  up  of  individual  volunteers  from  various  towns  in 
Western  Massachusetts  who  came  into  camp  and  enlisted, 
one  at  a  time,  developing  in  the  service  as  good  representatives 
of  the  volunteer  soldiers  of  the  Commonwealth. 

On  the  21st  of  June,  the  Company  with  others,  was  mustered 
into  the  United  States  service.  Monday,  the  24th,  on  invita 
tion,  the  soldiers  visited  the  Auburn  street  school  and  partook 
of  a  feast,  prepared  by  the  parents  of  the  pupils,  at  the  same 
time  being  made  the  recipients  of  boxes  containing  all  sorts 
of  articles  useful  to  the  individual  in  his  care  for  his  garments. 
The  third  day  of  July  was  a  memorable  one  in  the  annals  of 
the  Company  since  on  this  day  the  men  went  by  train  to 
Indian  Orchard  in  response  to  an  invitation  from  Mr.  Giles 
Brown,  agent  of  the  Indian  Orchard  mills.  This  was  the  home 
of  the  Captain  and  of  his  father,  the  Chaplain  of  the  Regiment. 
Great  preparations  had  been  made  for  the  reception  of  the 
Company  and  expectations  were  on  tiptoe  for  the  reception 
to  be  given  the  young  Captain  and  his  men.  A  handsome 
sword  and  equipments,  purchased  by  the  mill  operatives, 
were  to  be  presented  to  Captain  Barton.  All  went  well  until 
the  moment  of  the  formal  presentation  arrived.  Agent  Brown, 
the  host  of  the  occasion  had  been  commissioned  to  represent 


COMPANY  E  415 

the  donors  in  the  giving,  and  was  about  to  perform  this  pleas 
ant  duty  when,  seized  with  an  attack  of  heart  disease,  in  a 
twinkling  he  ceased  to  live. 

The  festivities  of  the  day  were  over;  the  presentation  was 
made  by  Mr.  G.  F.  Ramsdell,  the  Captain  received  his  gifts, 
as  it  proved,  far  more  costly  than  the  givers  had  intended,  and 
with  hushed  spirits  and  saddened  hearts,  the  soldiers  returned 
to  their  camp,  where  there  were  yet  a  few  days  of  drill  and 
routine  before  leaving  for  Medford.  The  same  day,  either 
before  or  after  the  foregoing  incident,  Lieut.  Byron  Porter 
was  presented  with  a  regulation  sword  at  the  Armory,  Col. 
H.  C.  Lee  speaking  for  the  Lieutenant's  friends. 

(For  full  explanation  of  abbreviations,  see  page  332.) 
COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

Frederic  Barton,  b.  Collinsville,  Conn.;  20,  S.;  -  — ,  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  before  the  War,  a  member  Spring 
field  City  Guard;  on  staff  of  General  F.  W.  Lander  in 
West  Va.,  fall  of  '61  and  spring,  '62;  on  General  H.  L. 
Eustis's  staff  after  June  14,  '63;  wd.  right  leg,  Gettys 
burg;  capt.  by  J.  S.  Mosby's  guerrillas,  Oct.  15,  '63 
and  taken  to  Richmond;  exchanged  Feb.  29,  '64; 
served  on  staff  of  General  Oliver  Edwards  till  end  of 
service;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  bvt.  Major  and  Lieut.  Colonel, 
March  13,  '65;  inspector,  Adams  Express  Co.;  address, 
1908,  Brookline;  d.  Dec.  9,  1908. 

Edwin  Lewis  Knight,  (G),  Nov.  26,  '62;  wd.  left  side,  May 
12,  '64,  Spottsylvania ;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  bvt.  Major, 
March  13,  '65;  from  1867  to  1891  in  heating  and  plumb 
ing  business,  Springfield;  owing  to  ill  health,  resulting 
from  the  war,  Captain  Knight  held  no  civil  office,  though 
often  besought  to  do  so;  ever  maintaining  an  active 
interest  in  public  affairs;  retiring  from  business  in  1891, 
he  has  continued  to  reside  in  Springfield. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS 

Byron  Porter,  b.  Pottsville,  Pa.;  31,  M.;  music  teacher, 
Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  prom.  Captain,  June  16,  '62; 
res.  and  dis.  Sept.  7,  '62;  Captain,  Asst.  Adj.  General, 
U.  S.  Vols.,  Aug.  7,  '62;  M.  O.  Sept.  1,  '66;  in  the  fore- 


416  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

going  official  capacity  he  served  with  the  5th,  8th,  1st 
and  13th  Corps  until  the  end  of  the  war,  in  the  interval 
being  severely  wounded  at  Frederic ksburg  and  before 
Petersburg,  was  captured  at  the  Weldon  R.  R.,  Aug.  9, 
'64,  paroled  March  13,  '65;  after  M.  O.  was  retained  for 
service  in  the  Freedmen's  Bureau,  etc.,  in  Texas,  until 
May,  '68;  res.  and  came  home;  in  1875,  government 
gauger,  Springfield;  d.  Laramie,  Wyo.,  Jan.  18,  1881, 
age  50  years. 

Wallace  A.  Putnam;  July  28,  '62;  res.  Jan.  14,  '63;  later 
Second  Lieut,  and  Captain,  56th  Mass.;  while  in  the 
Readville  camp  was  presented  by  his  Company  with  a 
sword,  belt  and  sash,  costing  $200.00,  as  a  mark  of 
esteem;  at  Spottsylvania,  commanded  the  Regiment; 
mortally  wounded,  May  24,  at  the  North  Anna ;  d.  at  his 
home,  June  20,  '64;  had  been  commissioned  Major,  May 
7th,  but  was  never  mustered. 

Levi  Ross,  (F) ;  Nov.  29,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  Feb.  20, 
1898,  State  S.  H.,  Erie,  Pa.,  aged  66  years. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS 

Wallace  A.  Putnam,  b.  Danvers  in  the  house  where  Israel 
Putnam  of  Revolutionary  fame  was  born;  23,  S. ;  teacher, 
South  Hadley;  June  21,  '61;  later,  elected  Lieut,  by  his 
comrades;  prom.  First  Lieut. 

Simeon  N.  Eldridge  (from  First  Sergt.,  B) ;  Nov.  26,  '62; 
wd.  right  arm,  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness,  bullet  never 
extracted;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  raised  Company  and  com. 
Captain,  61st  Mass;  dis.  1865;  established  successful 
painting  business  in  Bridgeport,  Conn.,  where  he  d. 
Jan.  31,  1879. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS  AND  PRIVATES 

Adams,  Charles  E.,  b.  Charlemont;  19,  S.;  farmer,  Williams- 
burg;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Agawam;  wd. 
leg,  Wilderness;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans. 
June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  d.  Winsted, 
Conn.,  March,  1903. 

Aiken,  Wm.  N.,  b.  Ireland;  22,  S.;  operative,  Springfield; 
June  21,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill;  dis.  Sept. 
25,  '62,  disa. 

Anderson,    George   W. ;      b.   Springfield;      21,    S.;      jeweller, 


COMPANY  E  417 

Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  Corp.,  May  12,  '64;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64;  was  with  the  Regiment  all  the  time,  never 
having  been  sick  or  disabled  or  receiving  a  furlough; 
since  the  War,  as  a  Grand  Army  man,  has  been  Secretary 
of  Relief  Com.  ten  years,  also  has  served  the  Tenth  Mass. 
Regt.  Association  in  the  same  capacity;  residence,  1908, 
Springfield. 

Armstrong,  James,  b.  Ireland;  23,  — ;  moulder,  Washington, 
N.  J.;  June  21,  '61;  desert.  Feb.  27,  '62,  Brightwood,  D.  C, 

Ball,  John  D.,  b.  Montague;  44,  M.;  shoemaker,  Amherst; 
June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th 
Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16, 
'65;  served  entire  enlistment  in  Ambulance  Corps;  d. 
Amherst,  Oct.  17,  1882. 

Barton,  Daniel  M.,  b.  Ware;  18,  S.;  shoemaker,  Springfield; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  12,  '61,  disa.;  re.  Aug.  20,  '62; 
wd.  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1907 
purchasing  agent,  General  Electric  Co.,  No.  703  Union 
Street,  Schenectady,  N.  Y. 

Barton,  Henry  B.,  b.  Moriah,  N.  Y.;  21,  S.;  painter,  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  wd.  knee,  May  5, 
'64,  Wilderness;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans. 
June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in  1907, 
West  Lynn. 

Bassett,  Dwight  E.,  b.  New  Britain,  Conn.;  22,  S.;  mechanic, 
Simsbury,  Conn.;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  May  3,  '63,  Salem 
Heights;'  trans,  Aug.  '63,  V.  R.  C.;  dis.  June  22,  '64, 
ex.  of  s. 

Billings,  George  W.,  b.  Palmer;  19,  S.;  operative,  Monson; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  last  twenty-five  years  in 
Plainfield;  from  1893  to  1896  inclusive,  selectman;  in 
1901-'02  tax  collector. 

Black,  Levi  W.,  b.  Williamsburg ;  24,  S.;  operative,  Williams- 
burg;  June  21,  '61;  Corp.,  March  1,  '64;  Sergt.,  May  12, 
'64;  wd.  neck,  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
d.  Penn  Yan,  N.  'Y.,  May,  1908. 

Black,  Lewis  T.,  b.  Chesterfield;  21,  S.;  operative,  Williams- 
burg;  June  21,  '61;  Corp.,  Oct.  15,  '62;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63; 
wd.  thigh,  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness;  Sergt.,  June  18,  '64; 
trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th 
Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in  1872,  farmer,  Williamsburg; 
always  an  invalid  since  the  War;  d.  Feb.  14,  1890. 


418 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


LIEUT.  S.  N.  ELDRIDGE, 
SERG'T.  L.    W.  BLACK, 


J.  SHENE, 
H.  A.  WIGGINS, 


CAPT.  E.  L.  KNIGHT, 
SERG'T.  G.  S.  WALLACE. 


Bodman,  Samuel  C.,  b.  Williamsburg ;  22,  S.;  laborer,  Wil- 
liamsburg;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1908, 
carriage  maker,  Florence. 

Bowles,  Roslin  W.,  b.  Hartford,  Conn.;  19,  S.;  printer, 
Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  Corp.,  March  10,  '62;  Sergt., 
Jan.  1,  '63;  declined  promotion  in  other  organizations 
that  he  might  remain  with  the  Tenth ;  received  commen 
dation  from  Col.  Parsons  for  bringing  up  reinforcements, 
(7th  Mass.),  at  the  Wilderness,  when  the  ammunition  of 
the  Regiment  had  been  exhausted;  prom.  Sergt.  Major. 
(F.  and  S.);  reported  dead,  1904. 

Buell,  Charles  E.,  (Mus.),  b.  Wolcottville,  Conn.;  20,  S.; 
farmer,  Wilbraham;  June  21,  '61;  was  first  enlisted  man 
from  Wilbraham;  struck  by  piece  of  shell,  while  carrying 
wounded  from  the  field  at  Fair  Oaks,  he  was  dis.  from 
hosp.  April  17,  '63 ;  unable  to  work  on  the  farm  he  learned 
telegraphy  and  became  a  prolific  inventor,  largely  in 
telegraph  and  telephone  lines  which  became  his  life  work ; 


COMPANY  E  419 

he  was  sent  by  President  McKinley,  during  the  Spanish 
War  with  Dr.  H.  K.  Carroll,  as  a  special  commission  to 
Porto  Rico  to  report  on  the  condition  and  needs  of  the 
island  people;  d.  June,  1903,  Atlantic  City,  N.  J. 

Cadwell,  Francis  E.,  b.  Wilbraham;  21,  M. ;  operative,  Monson; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  23,  '62,  disa.;  later  Co.  C,  First 
Provisional  Guards,  stationed,  Long  Island,  Boston 
Harbor. 

Cahill,  Thomas,  b.  Northampton;  19,  S.;  laborer,  Northamp 
ton;  June  21,  '61;  capt.  June  27,  '62,  Savage  Station; 
paroled,  July  25,  '62;  trans.  Co.  F,  24th  V.  R.  C.,  Jan. 
6,  '64;  M.  O.  June  28,  '64;  1908,  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Carpenter,  Andrew,  b.  Augusta,  Me. ;  27,  S. ;  seaman,  Ludlow; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  March  26,  '62,  disa. 

Chase,  Jonas  B.,  b.  Millbury;  26,  S.;  operative,  Milford, 
N.  H.;  June  21,  '61;  Corp.,  Aug.  9,  '62;  k.  May  5,  '64, 
Wilderness. 

Clark,  Holly  C.,  (R);  18,  S.;  farmer,  Becket;  Nov.  5,  '63; 
trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  wd.  April  6,  '65,  Sailor's 
Creek,  left  shoulder;  dis.  from  hosp.,  Baltimore,  Md., 
Oct.  5,  '65,  disa.;  teacher,  Chester,  one  term;  four  years 
Berkeley  Co.,  W.  Va.;  two  years  in  Mo.,  six  years  in  111.; 
lumber  business  1881  to  1902,  Mt.  Morris,  111.;  from 
1898  to  1908,  postmaster,  Mt.  Morris;  Past  Commander, 
Post  720,  Dept.  111. 

Clark,  Lorin  H.,  (Corp.),  b.  Brimfield;  33,  M.;  operative, 
Monson;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  31,  '62,  disa.;  foreman 
in  finishing  department,  woolen  mills,  Wales,  from  dis. 
to  his  death,  1903. 

Clough,  Edgar,  (Corp.),  b.  Springfield;  22,  S.;  gunsmith, 
Chicopee;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  wd.  arm, 
May  5,  '64,  Wilderness;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.; 
dis.  Oct.  1,  '64,  disa.;  killed  in  runaway  accident,  May 
13,  1866. 

Crawford,  Elmer,  b.  Athol;  23,  S.;  operative,  Springfield; 
June  21,  '61;  d.  White  House  Landing,  June  24,  '62. 

Crawford,  Samuel,  (R),  b.  New  Salem;  26,  — ;  hostler,  Spring 
field;  Sept.  6,  '61;  wd.  hand,  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania ; 
trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  dis.  Sept.  5,  '64,  ex.  of  s.; 
1908,  Barre  Plain. 

Daniels,  George  H.,  b.  New  London,  Conn.;  19,  S.;  operative, 
Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 


420 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


G.  W.  BILLINGS, 


CORP.  G.  W.  ANDERSON,     CORP.  W.  J.  TURNER. 


Day,  Charles  H.,  b.  Springfield;  20,  S.;  clerk,  Springfield; 
June  21,  '61;  wd.  right  shoulder,  Wilderness;  ab.  at 
M.  O.;  dis.  June  25,  '64,  ex.  of  s.;  in  1872,  cartridge 
maker,  Bridgeport,  Conn. 

Day,  John  T.,  b.  Boscawen,  N.  H.;  20,  S.;  operative,  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  Corp.,  Jan.  1,  '63;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63; 
wd.  head,  Wilderness;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.; 
trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  d. 
Corinth,  Vt.,  Nov.  5,  '65. 

Dobyns,  Thomas,  (Corp.),  b.  Ireland;  30,  S.;  operative, 
Chicopee;  June  21,  '61;  lost  arm  in  Wilderness  cam 
paign;  ab.  at  M.  O.,  July  1,  '64;  had  been  a  member  of 
the  constabulary  force  in  Ireland;  was  sent  to  N.  S.  H., 
Wisconsin,  1864;  rep.  dead. 

Donahue,  James,  b.  Ireland;  21,  S.;  soldier,  Saratoga,  N.  Y.; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  as  a  member  of  the  88th 
"Connaught  Rangers"  served  in  the  Crimea;  in  1875, 
Springfield. 

Dunphy,  Edmond,  b.  Ireland;  19,  S.;  cutler,  Northampton; 
June  21,  '61;  wd.  jaw,  Salem  Heights,  and  in  leg,  Wilder- 
dess;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  1898,  Bridgeport, 'Conn.;  "Ed 
ward  Dumphy"  on  State  House  rolls. 

Dunn,  John,  (R),  b.  Scotland;  28,  — ;  mechanic,  Springfield; 
Sept.  6,  '61;  desert.  Sept.  3,  '62,  Chain  Bridge,  Va. 


COMPANY  E  421 

Ellis,  George,  b.  Warren;  25,  M.;  dyer,  Monson;  June  21,  '61; 
Corp.  Nov.  13,  '63;  k.  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania. 

Evans,  George,  b.  Ireland;  24,  S.;  operative,  Palmer;  June 
21,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63; 
trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th 
Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  d.  Palmer,  April  3,  1893. 

Foster,  Frank  A.,  b.  Brooklyn,  Conn.;  18,  S.;  machinist, 
Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  capt.  at  Savage  Station,  Va., 
June  26,  '62,  while  in  hospital  there;  later  was  paroled 
and  sent  to  Annapolis;  M.  O.  July  1,  64;  passed  through 
the  service  of  his  Company  without  a  scar;  settling  in 
Norwich,  Conn.,  in  1875,  he  remained  till  1888,  when  he 
removed  to  Worcester,  that  his  only  son  might  receive 
a  technical  education;  returning  to  Norwich  in  1891,  he 
there  died,  Oct.  16,  1904,  a  prominent  inventor  and  a 
successful  manufacturer  of  firearms. 

Fowle,  John,  b.  Newburyport;  25,  S.;  laborer,  Newburyport; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  Newburyport,  April 
18,  1869. 

Frain,  Hugh,  b.  Chesterfield;  18,  S.;  laborer,  Springfield; 
June  21,  '61;  desert.  Sept.  30,  '61. 

French,  Henry  O.,  b.  Hinsdale;  19,  S.;  mechanic,  Northamp 
ton;  June  21,  '61;  d.  typhoid  fever,  Young's  Mills,  near 
Warwick,  Va.,  April  19,  '62,  the  first  of  Co.  E  to  die; 
"A  great  favorite  with  his  comrades." — E.  L.  K. 

Gaffney,  John  L.,  (Mus.),  b.  Ireland;  38,  M.;  musician,  Chico- 
pee;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  April  30,  '62,  disa.;  re.  Aug.  30, 
'62,  drum  major,  37th  Mass.;  dis.  June  21,  '65;  in  1872, 
Haydenville;  d.  Jan.  26,  1889,  N.  S.  H.,  Togus,  Me. 

Gassner,  George,  Jr.,  b.  Chicopee;  23,  S.;  laborer,  Springfield; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1872,  machinist, 
Chicopee  Falls;  d.  Dec.  26,  1885. 

Gassner,  James  C.,  b.  Lowell;  20,  S.;  machinist,  Springfield; 
June  21,  '61;  First  Sergt.,  Nov.  1,  '62;  on  recruiting 
service  for  Second  Mass.  Cav.,  Boston,  six  months;  prom. 
Second  Lieut.,  Nov.  26,  '62,  declined  and  was  dis.  Dec. 
28,  '62,  O.  W.  D.;  in  1869,  machinist,  Chicopee;  1908, 
Springfield,  (41  Oak  Grove  Ave.) 

Gibson,  Thomas,  b.  Melrose,  N.  Y.;  19,  S.;  operative,  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  11,  '62,  disa. 

Graves,  Horace  W.,  (Wagoner),  b.  Conway;  37,  M.;  tanner, 
Conway;  June  21,  '61;  served  the  most  of  his  time  as 
government  teamster,  Washington;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 


422  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Green,  Isaac  N.,  b.  Shutesbury;  23,  S.;  operative,  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  Shutesbury, 
Aug.  29,  1873. 

Hall,  Charles  M.,  b.  Hallowell,  Me.;  21,  M.;  moulder,  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  d.  May  6,  '62,  from  wds.  received  on 
the  third,  Salem  Heights. 

Hamill,  John  J.,  b.  Newburgh,  N.  Y.;  22,  S.;  operative, 
Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  Corp.,  June  26,  '64;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64. 

Harris,  Seneca  J.,  (R),  b.  Wilbraham;  20,  S.;  operative, 
Brightwood,  D.  C.;  Aug.  30,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  9,  '62,  disa.; 
1908,  South  Norwalk,  Conn. 

Hastings,  Henry  A.,  (R),  b.  Bernardston;  29,  — ;  mechanic, 
Greenfield;  Sept.  6,  '61;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.; 
dis.  Sept.  10,  '64,  ex.  of  s.;  he  was  the  oldest  of  four 
brothers  who  enlisted;  d.  July  15,  1902. 

Hayden,  Elbridge  F.,  b.  Chesterfield;  23,  S.;  carpenter, 
Conway;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  9,  '61,  disa.;  in  1873, 
Westhampton;  rep.  dead  1900. 

Hazleton,  Andrew  J.,  b.  Southwick;  18,  S.;  machinist,  West- 
field;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Hebert,  Constantine,  b.  France;  22,  S.;  clerk,  Springfield; 
June  21,  '61;  desert.  Dec.  11,  '62. 

Hebert,  Eugene,  b.  France;  27,  S.;  cabinet  maker,  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  desert.  Dec.  13,  '61,  Brightwood, 
D.  C. 

Hickey,  Charles,  b.  Northampton;  19,  S.;  laborer,  Northamp 
ton;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  wd.  leg,  May  5,  '64, 
Wilderness;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans. 
Nov.,  '64,  V.  R.  C.;  dis.  July  20,  '65,  ex.  of  s.;  1908, 
Northampton. 

Hitchcock,  Luther,  b.  Springfield;  20,  S.;  carpenter,  South 
Hadley;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  Wilderness;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
1907,  Titusville,  Fla. 

Jamison,  Quintain,  b.  Scotland;  37,  S.;  watchmaker,  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  d.  Sept.  10,  '62,  Finley  Hospital, 
Baltimore,  of  disease;  had  served  in  the  British  Army. 

Jones,  Horace  L.,  b.  Wilbraham;  19,  S.;  carpenter,  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  11,  '62,  disa. 

Jones,  Ira  L.,  b.  Pelham;    21,  S.;   laborer,  Enfield;   June  21, 


COMPANY  E  423 

'61;    re.  Dec.  21,   '63;    trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.; 
trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;    M.  O.  July  16,  '65;    in 
1907,  Greenwich;   also  Ira  "B." 
Kilroy,  James,  b.  Ireland;   29,  S.;  laborer,  Holyoke;  June  21, 

'61;    wd.  Malvern  Hill;    M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 
Knight,   Edwin   Lewis,    (First   Sergt.),  b.   Brimfield;    22,  S.; 
bookkeeper,    Springfield;    June   21,    '61;    prom.    Second 
Lieut.  (G). 

Lewis,  William  J.,  b.  Palmer;  18,  S.;  laborer,  Springfield; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  July  13,  '62,  disa.;  d.  Nov.  29,  1894, 
East  Hartford,  Conn. 

Londergan,  James  R.,  (R),  b.  Ireland;  20,  S.;  laborer,  North 
ampton;  Feb.  29,  '64;  wd.  hand,  Wilderness;  trans. 
June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  dis.  June  9,  '65,  O.  W.  D.; 
d.  Northampton,  July  30,  1886. 

Lortscher,  Christian,  (Corp.),  b.  Switzerland;  25,  S.;  machin 
ist,  Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  as  Color  Corp.,  d.  June  16, 
'62  of  wds.  received  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  State  House 
rolls  say  "Lortscherve." 

McFarlane,  Charles,  (Sergt.),  b.  Scotland;    20,  S.;    operative, 
Ludlow;  June  21,  '61;  k.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill,  while 
helping  Major  Miller,  then  mortally  wounded. 
Mclntire,  Charles  C.,  b.  Hyde  Park,  N.  Y.;   27,  M.;  teamster, 

Northampton;    June  21,  '61;    desert.  Sept.  26,  '61. 
McNeil,  John,  b.  Albany,  N.  Y. ;    18,  S.;    operative,  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;   desert.  Jan.  21,  '64, 
while  on  furlough. 
Merriam,   John  Q.   A.,  b.   Holden;    23,   S.;    harness  maker, 

Enfield;   June  21,  '61;   M.  O.  July  1,  '64;    1908,  Dana. 
Miller,  Edmund,  b.  Germany;    33,  M.;    harness  maker,  En- 
field;  June  21,  '61;   dis.  Sept.  26,  '62,  disa.;  later,  Co.  K, 
Second  Mass.  Cav. 

Nichols,  Henry  L.,  b.  East  Hampton,  Conn. ;  23,  S. ;  mechanic, 
Northampton;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1872, 
Northampton;  1908,  rep.  in  S.  H.,  Lafayette,  Ind. 
O'Brien,  John,  (R),  b.  Ireland;  22,  S.;  laborer,  Northampton; 
Feb.  29,  '64;  wd.  leg,  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania ;  trans. 
June  19,  '64,  37th.  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th 
Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65. 

O'Hara,  Henry  J.,  b.  New  York  City;  22,  S.;  mechanic,  New 
York;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill;  dis. 
Sept.  29,  '62,  disa.;  in  1872,  Holyoke. 


424  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Otis,  Charles  M.,  b.  Chester;  19,  S.;  blacksmith,  Huntington; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  8,  '62,  disa.;  dead. 

Paddock,  Ichabod  S.,  b.  Hoosick  Falls,  N.  Y. ;  22,  S. ;  mechanic, 
Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  Corp.,  July  2,  '62;  Sergt., 
March  1,  '64;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Agawam;  wd.  May  12, 
'64  and  obliged  to  use  crutches  until  Dec.,  '64;  trans. 
June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.; 
M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in  1872,  Hinsdale;  1908,  North 
Pownal,  Vt. 

Pelton,  Albert  E.,  b.  Northampton;  21,  S.;  dyer,  Williams- 
burg;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  19, 
'64,  37th  Mass.;  d.  April  20,  '65,  City  Point,  Va. 

Phillips,  Alvah  C.,  (Sergt.),  b.  Brattleboro,  Vt.;  20,  S.; 
butcher,  Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  d.  Gettysburg,  Pa., 
Oct.  3,  '63,  of  wds.  received  there  July  2,  '63. 

Porter,  George  W.,  b.  Northampton;  23,  S.;  teacher,  Enfield; 
June  21,  '61;  at  M.  O.  July  1,  '64,  clerk  at  Harwood 
Hospital,  D.  C. 

Porter,  Peter,  b.  England;  29,  S.;  soldier,  Springfield;  June 
21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  after  the  war  returned  to  the 
old  country. 

Potter,  Edward  T.,  b.  Palmer;  19,  S.;  farmer,  Monson; 
June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Palmer;  capt.  May  18, 
'64,  Spottsylvania ;  prisoner  at  Andersonville  nine  months ; 
trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th 
Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  1908,  dairy  farmer,  Ludlow. 

Potvin,  Charles,  b.  Canada;  22,  S.;  painter,  Springfield; 
June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  desert.  Jan.  14,  '64,  while 
on  furlough. 

Prickett,  Jesse,  (Corp.),  b.  Hazardville,  Conn.;  20,  S.;  opera 
tive,  Wilbraham;  June  21,  '61;  Sergt.  Aug.  9,  '62; 
First  Sergt.,  Jan.  1,  '63;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  wd.  leg,  Spott 
sylvania;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  prom.  Second 
Lieut,  to  date  from  May  15,  '64;  res.  May  21,  '65;  in 
1872,  tallyman,  B.  &  A.  R.  R.,  Pittsfield;  died  Sept. 
8,  1908,  Pittsfield. 

Ramsdell,  Henry  L.,  b.  Hardwick;  21,  S.;  carpenter,  Spring 
field;  June^21,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  1,  '61,  disa.;  1898,  Olathe, 
Kan. 

Rice,  Sylvanus  Newell,  b.  Hawley;  24,  S.;  laborer,  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Agawam;  trans. 
June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.; 
M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  d.  Aug.  '91. 


COMPANY  E 


425 


F.  A.  FOSTER, 


SERG'T.  S.  C.  WARRINER, 


GEO.  GASSNER,  JR. 


Richards,  Reuben  A.,  b.  Tyringham;  24,  S.;  laborer,  Hunt- 
ington;  June  21,  '61;  desert.  Nov.  25,  '61. 

Scott,  James  L.,  b.  Brattleboro,  Vt.;  18,  S.;  student,  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  Corp.,  March  1,  '64;. 
trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th 
Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  for  five  years  after  discharge 
a  clerk,  Springfield  P.  O.;  in  1870,  Indianapolis,  Ind., 
passing  his  life  in  almost  all  phases  of  R.  R.  employ,, 
till  his  death,  May,  1898;  bur.  in  Springfield. 

Shannon,  Thomas,  (R),  b.  Ireland;  21,  S.;  laborer,  Pitts- 
field;  Feb.  24,  '62;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  wd.  scalp,  Wilder 
ness;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65, 
20th  Mass. ;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65. 

Shehan,  Timothy,  b.  Ireland;  20,  S.;  laborer,  Springfield; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Dec.  8,  '62,  disa.;  d.  Dec.  23,  1886, 
N.  S.  H.,  Togus,  Me. 

Shene,  James,  b.  Westfield;  groom,  Springfield;  June  21,  '61; 
wd.  Malvern  Hill,  arm  and  still  carries  the  bullet;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64;  was  orderly  at  Div.  Headquarters,  Antietam; 
at  Fredericksburg,  was  hurt  by  a  horse  falling  on  him, 
and  was  sent  to  the  rear  from  Warrenton;  returned  at 
Culpeper;  has  been  Aide  on  Department  Commander's. 
Staff  and  Capt.  of  the  Guard,  E.  K.  Wilcox  Post,  Spring 
field;  1908,  Springfield. 

Skidmore,  Wm.  J.,  b.  Quincy;  21,  S.;  laborer,  Monson;  June 
21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  wd.  scalp,  Wilderness;  d.  soon 
after  wound  at  "Soldier's  Rest,"  in  Springfield. 


426  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Smith,  Wm.  Henry,  b.  Boston;  20,  S.;  operative,  Monson; 
June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  31,  '63,  cr.  Barre;  trans.  June  19, 
'64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O. 
July  16,  '65;  1908,  29  Perkins  Street,  Lowell. 

Spellman,  Charles  E.,  b.  West  Granville;  18,  S.;  laborer, 
Simsbury,  Conn.;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr. 
Longmeadow;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  wd. 
April  6,  '65,  Sailor's  Creek;  ab.  at  trans.  June  21,  '65, 
20th  Mass.;  dis.  from  hosp.  David's  Island,  New  York 
Harbor,  Oct.  14,  '65;  1908,  York,  Neb. 

Squires,  John  E.,  (Sergt.),  b.  Hartford,  Conn.;  23,  S.;  laborer, 
South  Hadley;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans. 
June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.; 
M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in  1872,  running  a  sawmill,  Montague; 
d.  June  9,  1886. 

Talbot,  George  W.,  b.  Poquonock,  Conn.;  25,  S.;  painter, 
Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  Corp.  Jan.  1,  '63;  wd.  neck, 
Spottsylvania ;  ab.  at  M.  O.,  July  1,  '64;  1898,  painting 
business,  East  Granby,  Conn.;  1909,  Tariffville,  Conn. 

Templeman,  John  W.,b.  Halifax,  N.S.;  23,  S.;  cabinetmaker, 
Dorchester;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  d.  June  6,  '64, 
of  wds.  received  at  the  Wilderness. 

Thompson,  Charles  H.,  b.  Hardwick;  jeweller,  Northampton; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  9,  '61,  disa. 

Thompson,  Charles  W.,  (Corp.),  b.  Chicopee;  20,  S.;  operative, 
Chicopee;  June  21,  '61;  Sergt.,  Nov.  1,  '62;  k.  May 
12,  '64,  Spottsylvania. 

Thompson,  George  W.,  (R),  b.  Chicopee;  20,  S.;  cloth  dresser, 
Chicopee;  Jan.  13,  '64,  cr.  Springfield;  trans.  June  19, 
'64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O. 
July  16,  '65. 

Thompson,  Wm.,  b.  Scotland;  38,  S.;  weaver,  Springfield; 
June  21,  '61;  d.  from  wds.  received  at  Spottsylvania; 
was  an  old  English  soldier. 

Tinkham,  Alfred  H.,  b.  Enfield;  35,  M.;  shoemaker,  South 
Hadley;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  as  Corp.,  March  10,  '62,  disa. 

Turner,  Charles  R.,  (R),  b.  Becket;  19,  S.;  farmer,  Becket; 
Nov.  13,  '63;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans. 
June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  d.  West- 
field,  Feb.  4,  1904. 

Turner,  Wm.  J.,  b.  Becket;    25,  S.;    farmer,  Chester;    June 


COMPANY  E  427 

21,  '61;   Corp.,  July  2,  '62;   wd.  ankle,  Marye's  Heights, 
May  3,  '63;  ^M.  O.  July  1,  '64;    1908,  farmer,  Chester. 

Wallace,  Gideon  S.,  (Corp.),  b.  Lawrence,  N.  Y.;  22,  S.;. 
blacksmith,  Russell;  June  21,  '61;  Sergt.,  Aug.  9,  '62; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  through  injuries  to  his  eyes  during  the 
War,  he  was  obliged  to  give  up  blacksmithing ;  removing 
to  Springfield  he  learned  carpentry  and  there  d.  Feb. 
13,  1907. 

Walsh,  James,  b.  Northampton;  20,  S.;  fireman,  Northamp 
ton;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  leg,  Salem  Heights,  May  3,  '63; 
re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  wd.  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania;  Corp., 
May  12,  '64;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June 
21, '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16, '65;  rep.  dead;  State 
House  rolls  give  "Welch." 

Warrillow,  Wm.,  b.  Canterbury  Conn.;  18,  S.;  machinist, 
Chicopee;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Longmeadow; 
wd.  hand,  Spottsylvania;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th 
Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16, 
'65;  State  House  rolls  give  "Warrillon;"  1908,  South 
Manchester,  Conn;  also  rep.  at  N.  S.  H.,  Togus,  Me. 

Warriner,  Stephen  C.;  b.  Monson;  21,  S.;  teacher,  Monson; 
June  21,  '61;  Sergt.,  Nov.  1,  '61;  served  with  the  Tenth 
through  all  of  its  engagements  up  to  the  date  of  his  dis., 
July  28,  '62,  for  Com.  as  Capt.,  36th  Mass.;  participated 
in  the  varied  experience  of  that  regiment  at  Vicksburg 
and  Jackson,  Miss.,  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  Tenn.,  etc., 
until  April  22,  '64,  when  he  res.  and  came  back  to  Mass.; 
since  1875,  insurance  business,  Springfield;  Common 
Council,  1878,  Alderman,  1890,  Representative  in  Legis 
lature,  1893,  1894  and  1895;  Commander,  Post  65  and 
of  Post  16. 

Wiggins,  Francis  H.  B.,  b.  Ausable,  N.  Y. ;  19,  S.;  operative, 
Springfield;  June  21, '61;  dis.  Nov.  9,  '62,  to  re.  U.  S.  A. ; 
dis.  April  7,  '63,  Battery  G,  2d  U.  S.  Light  Artillery,  disa.; 
d.  Aug.  1,  1864,  Chicopee  Falls. 

Wiggins,  Henry  A.,  b.  Clintonville,  N.  Y.;  21,  S.;  operative, 
Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  wd.  left 
thigh,  May  5,  '64;  lay  on  hosp.  bed  thirteen  months, 
some  of  the  time  not  expected  to  live;  dis.  from  David's 
Island,  N.  Y.  harbor,  Sept.  21,  '65;  meantime,  had  been 
twice  trans,  to  the  37th  and  the  20th  Mass.;  in  1870, 
was  elected  constable  and  collector,  Cohoes,  N.  Y.,  serving 


428  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

two  years;  has  been' Junior  and  Senior  Vice-Commander, 
H.  V.  Smith  Post,  G.  A.  R.,  Athol;  invalid  from  wd., 
retired,  1904;  1908,  Worcester,  (40  Lake  St.). 

Williams,  Preserved  W.,  b.  Warwick;  24,  S.;  operative, 
Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  March  4,  '63,  disa. 

Williston,  John  R.,  b.  Russell;  23,  S.;  farmer,  Russell;  June 
21,  '61;  desert.  Nov.  25,  '61;  later  served  a  full  enlist 
ment  in  a  regiment  from  another  state. 

Witherell,  Albert,  b.  Northampton;  23,  S.;  laborer,  South 
Hadley;  June  21,  '61;  detailed  on  ambulance  train, 
Sept.  '62;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th 
Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65; 
1908,  129  E.  177th  Street,  New  York. 

Winslow,  Shubael  M.,  b.  Nantucket;  21,  S.;  shoemaker, 
Springfield,  cr.  Nantucket;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21, 
'63;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  d.  of  wds.  in  Wash 
ington,  April  21,  '65. 

Woodman,  Henry  N.,  b.  Springfield;  20,  S.;  laborer,  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  partially  paralyzed  by  a  shell  at 
Gettysburg;  dis.  from  hosp.  New  York,  June  21,  '64,  ex. 
of  s. ;  in  1872,  painter,  Springfield;  1909,  baggage  master, 
B.  &  A.  R.  R.,  Agawam. 

COMPANY  F,  SPRINGFIELD  CITY  GUARD 

The  Springfield  City  Guard  was  organized  in  1852  and  from 
the  start  was  popular,  drawing  to  its  ranks  some  of  the  best 
young  men  of  the  city  and,  in  later  years,  many  of  the  leading 
men  of  Springfield  have  considered  their  service  in  this  Com 
pany  one  of  the  proudest  features  of  their  earlier  days.  The 
first  Captain,  John  B.  Wyman,  afterwards  commanded  the 
Chicago  Light  Guard  and,  as  Colonel  of  the  13th  Illinois 
Regiment,  was  killed  in  front  of  Vicksburg,  Dec.  28,  1862. 
Horace  C.  Lee,  afterwards  Colonel  of  the  27th  Mass.,  was  the 
commander  for  several  years.  Other  Captains  were  William 
L.  Smith,  Esq.,  later  Mayor  of  the  city,  John  Taylor  and 
Hosea  C.  Lombard,  in  command  at  the  outbreak  of  the  War. 
Perhaps  no  military  organization  in  the  western  portions  of 
the  Commonwealth  enjoyed  a  higher  reputation  and,  when 
the  Prince  of  Wales  was  received  in  Boston  in  October,  1860, 
the  City  Guard  was  chosen  to  represent  the  Militia  of  Western 
Massachusetts.  As  an  indication  of  the  military  spirit  and 
skill  the  Company  gave  its  members,  it  should  be  stated  that 


COMPANY  F  429 

it  furnished  no  less  than  forty  commissioned  officers  for 
service  during  the  war.  At  the  very  onset  of  hostilities,  the 
Guard  volunteered  its  services  and  anxiously  awaited  the 
summons  which  should  send  it  to  Washington.  While  dis 
appointed  in  this  regard,  the  men  did  excellent  work  in 
guarding  the  U.S.  Armory  of  Springfield,  whose  safety  many 
thought  in  danger  through  plotting  Rebel  emissaries.  Very 
likely  their  care  and  vigilance  preserved  the  arsenal  for  its 
subsequent  career  of  usefulness.  As  with  the  other  Com 
panies  of  the  Tenth,  they  were  provided  with  a  handsome  gray 
uniform,  nearly  half  the  expense  of  which  was  borne  by  Chester 
W.  Chapin,  one  of  Springfield's  wealthiest  and  most  liberal 
citizens,  the  city  paying  the  balance.  Nor  were  the  individuals 
of  the  Company  forgotten,  since  July  2,  at  a  large  assem 
blage  of  former  members  and  friends  in  the  Company's 
Armory,  Lieut.  George  W.  Bigelow  was  presented  with  a 
handsome  regulation  sword  and  equipments,  a  tribute  of 
regard  from  his  old  associates  in  the  Company.  Homer  G. 
Gilmore,  the  Orderly  Sergeant,  was  similarly  remembered 
by  George  K.  Jacobs  and  Charles  Gibbs,  fellow  workmen  in 
the  pistol  factory  of  Smith  &  Wesson.  Former  Captain  Wm. 
L.  Smith,  was  the  orator  of  the  occasion.  Lieut.  Keith  was 
given  an  elegant  sword  by  Wm.  L.  Wilcox  and  a  handsome 
knapsack  by  other  friends.  The  final  act  of  local  recognition 
was  a  farewell  ball  and  jubilee,  July  12,  in  the  City  Hall,  thus 
assembling  a  large  number  of  people,  both  civil  and  military. 
Nor  was  poetry  lacking  as  the  Guard  departed,  since  the 
strains  of  Dixie  were  adapted  to  a  Union  song  by  a  local 
writer. 

(For  full  explanation  of  abbreviations,  see  page  332.) 
COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

Hosea  C.  Lombard,  b.  Springfield;  pistol  maker,  Springfield; 
May  31,  '61;  res.  Nov.  2,  '62;  for  twelve  years  preceding 
the  war  he  had  been  connected  with  the  militia  and  in 
1861  was  Captain  of  the  Springfield  City  Guard;  com 
manded  the  Guard  again  after  the  war;  in  1873,  was 
Chief  Engineer  of  the  Fire  .Department,  Springfield,  and 
in  1875  was  an  officer  of  the  city  police  force;  later  was 
a  deputy  sheriff  of  Hampden  County,  and  died  while 
holding  that  office. 


430  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

George  W.  Bigelow;  Nov.  3,  '62  from  "K;"  wd.  Spottsyl- 
vania;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  bvt.  Major,  March  13,  '65; 
in  1909,  4  Union  Park  St.,  Boston. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS 

Hiram  A.  Keith,  b.  Mendon;  28,  M.;  tinman,  Springfield; 
May  31,  '61;  during  the  greater  part  of  his  service  was 
Acting  Adjutant;  cashiered,  Nov.  25,  '62;  for  several 
years  he  had  been  connected  with  the  City  Guard;  in 
1873,  commercial  traveller,  Springfield;  d.  Wilbraham, 
1907. 

Homer  G.  Gilmore,  from  Co.  I,  Aug.  9,  '62;  prom.  Captain,  (D). 

Lemuel  Oscar  Eaton;  Nov.  26,  '62  from  First  Sergt.;  wd. 
left  knee  at  Malvern  Hill  and  in  left  thigh,  May  5,  '64, 
Wilderness;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  bvt.  Captain,  March  13,  '65; 
until  his  retirement  from  business,  Jan.  1,  1907,  contrac 
tor  and  builder,  Springfield;  member  of  E.  K.  Wilcox 
Post  G.  A.  R. ;  member  Builders'  Exchange  of  which 
he  was  President  two  years;  1908,  Springfield. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS 

George  W.  Bigelow,  b.  Fairhaven,  Vt.;  32,  S.;  printer, 
Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  prom.  First  Lieut.;  had  been 
a  member  of  the  militia  a  dozen  years  before  the  war. 

Henry  E.  Crane;  July  12,  '62,  from  First  Sergt.;  dis.  Nov. 
25,  '62;  later  in  Co.  I,  3d  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery,  whence, 
according  to  Newell,  he  was  dis.  Jan.  5,  '65  for  Com.  in 
Colored  Troops. 

Terry  S.  Noble,  (K) ;  Nov.  26,  '62;  wd.  hand  Salem  Heights, 
May  3,  '63;  res.  Nov.  24,  '63;  in  1908,  Westfield. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS  AND  PRIVATES 

(Date   of  beginning   duty,    May  31,  is  given  instead   of  June   21, 
muster-in.) 

Adams,  Henry  S.,  b.  Lowell;  21,  S.;  clerk,  Chicopee;  May 
31,  '61;  dis.  Sept.  8,  '62  for.  Com.  First  Lieut,  and  Ad 
jutant,  3d  Mass.  Cav.;  res.  Nov.  10,  '63;  dead. 

Adams,  John  C.,  b.  Lowell;  24,  S.;  clerk,  Chicopee;  May 
31,  '61;  dis.  April  27,  '63,  disa.;  dead. 

Allen,  Eugene  A.,  (Sergt.),  b.  Springfield;    25,  S.;    salesman, 


COMPANY  F 


431 


C.  D.  UFFORD, 
J.  H.  HENDRICK, 


CORP.  J.  L.  KNIGHT, 
WM.  O.  REGAN, 


LIEUT.  L.  O.  EATON, 
CORP.  L.  F.  BABCOCK. 


Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  dis.  Sept.  30,  '62  for  Com.  as 
Captain,  37th  Mass.;  prom.  Major,  Jan.  17,  '63;  res. 
Nov.  25,  '63;  in  1875,  Springfield;  an  old  City  Guard 
man;  dead. 

Averill,  Lorenzo  T.,  b.  Lowell;  19,  S.;  machinist,  Spring 
field;  May  31,  '61;  Corp.,  March  8,  '61;  struck  by 
piece  of  shell,  Marye's  Heights,  May  3,  '63;  wd.  Spottsyl- 
vania,  May  12,  '64;  M.  O.  July'  1,  '64;  1908,  U.  S. 
Government  Gauger,  Springfield. 

Babcock,  Lucius  F.,  (Corp.),  b.  Windsor,  Conn.;  25,  M.; 
carpenter,  Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
during  the  greater  part  of  his  service  was  on  detail  at 
headquarters  of  4th  or  8th  Army  Corps  as  orderly;  in 
March,  '64,  appointed  U.  S.  special  detective;  after  M.  O. 
was  reappointed  a  special  officer  and  held  the  position 
till  Dec.,  '65;  has  in  his  possession  an  unsolicited  letter 


432  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

of  commendation,  signed  by  General  John  Woolley  and 
endorsed  by  Maj.  General  Lew  Wallace;  in  1907,  Vine- 
land,  N.  J.;  borne  as  "Lucien"  on  State  House  rolls. 

Barnard,  Mark  C.,  b.  Warren,  N.  H.;  27,  S.;  teamster, 
Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  d.  Nov.  23,  '61,  Washington, 
D.  C. 

Bartlett,  Abner  T.,  b.  Warren;  25,  S.;  baker,  Springfield; 
May  31,  '61 ;  dis.  Dec.  12,  '62,  disa. ;  1909,  Cane  Valley,  Ky. 

Bartlett,  Edwin  B.,  (Corp.),  b.  Holden;  22,  S.;  clerk,  Spring 
field;  May  31, '61;  prom.  Sergt.  Major;  was  an  old  mem 
ber  of  the  City  Guard. 

Blake,  Joseph  W.,  b.  Derry,  N.  H.;  27,  M.;  blacksmith, 
Chicopee;  May  31,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,'  64;  had  the  almost 
unrivaled  distinction  of  never  losing  a  day's  service,  since 
he  was  not  sick  nor  wounded  nor  did  he  receive  a  fur 
lough  from  first  to  last;  in  1869,  working  in  chair  fac 
tory,  East  Templeton;  dead. 

Bliss,  Charles,  b.  Springfield;  21,  S.;  clerk,  Springfield;  May 
31,  '61;  dis.  April  30,  '62,  disa.;  in  1875,  Springfield;  dead. 

Bolton,  Lemuel  M.,  (R),  b.  New  York  City;  19,  S.;  farmer, 
Heath;  Sept.  12,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  19, 
'64,  37th  Mass.;  prom.  Sergt.;  k.  April  6,  '65,  Sailor's 
Creek. 

Boyden,  Charles  O.,  b.  Haydenville;  19,  S.;  tinsmith,  Chico 
pee;  May  31,  '61;  wd.  hip  and  capt.  Malvern  Hill; 
retained  at  Libby  Prison  two  months;  on  parole,  was 
sent  to  David's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor;  dis.  Nov.  19, 
'62,  disa.;  in  1875,  Worcester;  rep.  d.  1898. 

Brady,  Benjamin  F.,  b.  Sheldon,  Vt.;  28,  S.;  blacksmith, 
Belchertown;  May  31,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  was  one 
of  the  men  who  went  into  the  gunboat  service  and 
Newell  says  did  not  return  to  the  Regiment. 

Britt,  Patrick,  (R),  b.  Ireland;  35,  M.;  laborer,  Montague; 
Aug.  14,  '62;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th 
Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65. 

Burbank,  James  H.,  b.  Hartford,  Conn.;  26,  S.;  seaman, 
Springfield ;  May  31,  '61 ;  lost  right  leg,  Salem  Heights,  May 
3,  '63;  was  sent  to  Lovell  General  Hospital,  Portsmouth 
Grove,  R.  I.,  where  he  was  librarian  till  dis.  Feb.  2,  '64, 
disa.;  in  1873,  skate  maker,  Springfield;  a  former 
member  of  the  City  Guard;  died  March  3rd,  1909;  age 
72;  buried  at  Friendship,  New  Jersey. 


COMPANY  E  433 

Burke,  Thomas  F.,  b.  Springfield;  24,  S.;  clerk,  Springfield; 
May  31,  '61;  k.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill. 

Chapin,  Henry  M.,  (R),  b.  Springfield;  22,  S.;  machinist, 
Springfield;  Sept.  11,  '62;  wd.  right  arm,  Salem  Heights, 
and  in  side,  Cold  Harbor,  June  3,  '64;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
in  1909,  Merrick. 

Clark,  John  W.,  b.  Otis;  24,  S.;  clerk,  Springfield;  May  31, 
'61;  dis.  Aug.  12,  '61,  disa.;  though  credited  to  Spring 
field,  he  was  the  first  man  to  enlist  from  Sandisfield ; 
his  early  disa.  arose  from  exposure  while  having  measles; 
on  recovery,  went  to  Hartford,  Conn.;  was  drafted, 
July  15,  '63,  and  detailed  at  State  Arsenal  in  care  of 
military  stores  under  direction  of  Q.  M.  General;  after 
the  war,  in  South  Windsor,  Conn.,  serving  fifteen  years 
as  grand  juror;  in  1907,  East  Windsor  Hill,  Conn. 

Clark,  Montreville  H.,  b.  Ludlow;  25,  S.;  tailor,  Springfield; 
May  31,  '61;  wd.  arm,  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  Dec.  31,  '62,  disa. 

Cole,  Cyrus,  (R),  b.  Warren;  44,  M.;  hatter,  Springfield; 
Jan.  5,  '64;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June 
21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  d.  Sept.,  1875, 
Springfield. 

Colton,  Nathaniel  W.,  b.  West  Springfield;  24,  S. ;  boot  maker, 
Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  15,  '62,  disa.;  in  1870, 
boot  maker,  Worcester;  S.  H.,  California. 

Cooley,  Orrin  B.,  (Corp.),  b.  Longmeadow;   34,  M.;   spectacle 

maker,   Longmeadow;    May  31,   '61;    re.   Feb.   20,   '64; 

'  trans,  as  Sergt.,  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  prom.  Second 

Lieut.,  17th  Mass.,  Feb.  7,  '65;   First  Lieut.,  June  1,  '65; 

M.  O.  July  11,  '65;   in  1875,  Longmeadow;   dead. 

Coomes,  Edwin  P.,  b.  Springfield;  24,  S.;  spectacle  maker, 
Longmeadow;  May  31,  '61;  wd.  hand,  Spottsylvania ; 
Sergt.,  June  15,  '64;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  served  one  year 
in  Hancock's  Veteran  Corps;  in  1872,  jeweller,  Bridge 
port,  Conn.;  d.  1906;  Newell  has  "Edward." 

Coomes,  Elias,  b.  Sharon,  Vt.;  24,  S.;  thimble  maker,  Long- 
meadow;  May  31,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks. 

Crane,  Henry  E.,  (Sergt.),  b.  Springfield;  23.  M.;  carpenter, 
Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  First  Sergt.,  Jan.  6,  '62;  prom. 
Second  Lieut.;  had  been  an  active  member  of  the  City 
Guard. 

Currier,  John  W.,  Jr.,  (Sergt.),  b.  North  Troy,  Vt.;  25,  S.; 
clerk,  Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  dis.  Jan.  6,  '62,  for  com. 


434  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

First  Lieut,  and  Adjutant,  1st  Va.  (loyal)  Volunteers; 
res.  after  battle  of  Williamsburg  and  was  appointed  by 
the  W.  D.,  trade  agent,  Army  of  the  Potomac;  in  this 
capacity  led  a»  varied  and  exciting  career,  encountering 
Mosby  and  his  men;  while  Cold  Harbor  was  in  progress, 
he  was  designated  by  the  Provost  Marshal  General  to 
furnish  officers'  clothing  and  equipments  for  the  Potomac 
Army;  establishing  his  quarters  at  City  Point,  he  re 
mained  till  after  the  surrender  of  Lee;  in  1875,  Troy,  Vt. ; 
d.  1905. 

Cutler,  Joseph  Warren,  b.  Jackson,  N.  Y. ;  26,  S.;  boot  treer, 
West  Brookfield;  May  31,  '61;  Corp.,  Dec.  16,  '61; 
Sergt.,  Feb.,  '63;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  was  the  first  volun 
teer  from  West  Brookfield;  d.  May  18,  '72,  West  Brook- 
field. 

Daly,  Lewis  L.,  b.  Cambridge;  23,  S.;  tinman,  Cambridge; 
May  31,  '61;  wd.  head,  Fair  Oaks;  Corp.,  Aug.  16,  '62; 
Sergt.,  March  8,  '64;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  at  last  account, 
South  Boston. 

Damon,  Sylvanus  C.,  b.  Chesterfield;  24,  M.;  hair  dresser, 
Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  dis.  Sept.  28,  '62,  disa.;  was 
a  former  member  of  the  City  Guard;  in  1907,  resided  in 
Chesterfield  where  he  has  been  highway  surveyor  and 
school  committeeman. 

Day,  William  H.,  b.  Easthampton;  •  24,  S.;  hair  dresser, 
Chicopee;  May  31,  '61;  wd.  left  leg,  Gettysburg;  trans. 
V.  R.  C.  as  Corp.  and  dis.  June  22,  '64;  in  1869,  Hunting- 
ton;  1908,  Westfield. 

Dresser,  George  N.,  b.  Templeton;  19,  S.;  Clerk,  Springfield; 
May  31,  '61;  after  Fredericksburg,  served  as  clerk  at 
division  headquarters  until  end  of  service;  M.  O.  July 
1,  '64;  in  1873,  Springfield;  1908,  S.  H.,  Chelsea. 

Duncan,  George  H.,  b.  England;  19,  S.;  clerk,  Springfield; 
May  31,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  Springfield; 
dead. 

Earle,  William  W.,  b.  Hebron,  Conn.;  24,  S.;  tanner,  Wales; 
May  31,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  painter,  Spring 
field;  died  1906  or  1907. 

Eaton,  Lemuel  Oscar,  (Corp.),  b.  Springfield;  28,  S.;  car 
penter,  Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  Sergt.,  Dec.  16,  '61; 
First  Sergt.,  Dec.  31,  '61;  prom.  First  Lieut.;  was  a 
former  member  of  the  City  Guard. 


COMPANY  F  435 

Ellis,  Chester  S.,  b.  Windsor  Locks,  Conn.;  20,  S.;  carpenter, 
Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  wd.  Malvern  Hill;  trans. 
Dec.  5,  '63,  First  Mass.  Battery;  -re.  Dec.  23,  '63,  cr. 
West  Cambridge;  trans.  March  12,  '65,  9th  Mass.  Battery; 
dis.  June  6,  '65,  ex.  of  s. ;  d.  March  9,  1870,  Springfield. 

Ennis,  Dennis  D.,  b.  Frederickton,  N.  B.;  20,  S.;  tailor, 
Chicopee;  May  31,  '61;  dis.  Sept.  12,  '62,  disa. 

Gates,  Emory  B.,  b.  Longmeadow;  23,  S.;  armorer,  Long- 
meadow;  May  31,  '61;  trans.  V.  R.  C.,  Nov.  23,  '63; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  bookkeeper,  New  York  City; 
d.  S.  H.,  California,  1904. 

Gaynard,  Thomas  H.,  b.  New  York  City;  20,  S.;  manufac 
turer,  Chicopee;  May  31,  '61;  wd.  May  31,  '62,  Fair 
Oaks;  dis.  Aug.  26,  '62,  disa.;  "Genard"  on  State 
House  rolls. 

Gilmore,  Homer  G.,  (First  Sergt.),  b.  West  Claremont,  N.  H.; 
23,  S.;  pistol  maker,  Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  prom. 
Second  Lieut.,  Nov.  6,  '61  (I);  was  an  active  member  of 
the  City  Guard  on  enlistment. 

Gilmore,  Wm.  S.,  b.  Franklin;  27,  S.;  machinist,  Springfield; 
May  31,  '61;  dis.  March  12,  '62,  disa. 

Gleason,  Charles  F.,  (R),  b.  Heath;  20,  S.;  farmer,  Spring 
field;  Sept.  12,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  7,  '62,  disa. 

Gleason,  Thomas  S.,  (R),  b.  Heath;  18,  S.;  farmer,  Spring 
field;  Sept.  12,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks. 

Goff,  John  B.,  b.  Palmer;  21,  S.;  machinist,  Chicopee;  May 
31,  '61;  ab.  sick  at  M.  O.,  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  stationary 
enigneer,  Fortress  Monroe;  dead. 

Goodale,  Henry  W.,  (R),  b.  Hartford,  Conn;  25,  M.;  polisher, 
Springfield;  Aug.  22,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1872, 
Springfield;  d.  1906. 

Gorman,  Hugh  L.,  b.  Springfield;  24,  M.;  pistol  maker, 
Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  wd.  shoulder,  while  Color 
Corporal,  Fair  Oaks,  May  31,  '62;  dis.  Aug.  11,  '62,  disa.; 
in  1875,  Providence,  R.  I.;  dead. 

Gray,  Henry  W.,  (Wagoner),  b.  Wilbraham;  21,  S.;  hack 
driver,  Wilbraham;  May  31,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in 
1875,  Wilbraham. 

Gray,  Lyman  E.,  b.  Amherst;  23,  S.;  carpenter,  Wilbraham; 
May  31,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  3,  '63,  disa. 


436  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Green,  George  S.,(  Corp.),  b.  Barre;  28,  M.;  bridge  maker, 
Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  prom.  Sergt.  and  First  Sergt.; 
re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  dis.  Feb.  8,  '64,  for  com.  Second  Lieut., 
57th  Mass.;  wd.  right  arm,  Cold  Harbor,  '64;  July,  '64, 
detailed  to  serve  on  Staff  of  General  H.  S.  Briggs;  dis. 
Oct.  5,  '64,  disa.;  bvt.  Major,  March  13,  '65;  during  the 
subsequent  five  years,  served  the  Government  in  the  way 
of  laying  out  the  National  Cemeteries  at  Culpeper  and 
Fredericksburg,  also  assisting  in  the  transfer  of  Union 
dead  from  places  of  original  burial  to  these  most  attrac 
tive  enclosures;  before  the  war,  had  been  six  years  a 
member  of  the  City  Guard;  for  some  time  after  leaving 
government  employ  was  agent  for  a  windmill  company, 
Batavia,  111.;  in  1907,  resided  in  Chicago,  111. 

Grout,  Austin  O.,  b.  Amherst;  20,  S.;  mechanic,  Chicopee; 
May  31,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  1908,  Chicopee  Falls. 

Hale,  George  D.  Y.,  (Sergt.),  b.  Palmer;  23,  S.;  clerk,  Spring 
field;  May  31,  '61;  dis.  March  17,  '63,  disa.;  was  an  old 
member  of  the  Guard;  in  1869,  inspector,  Howe  Sewing 
Machine  Co.,  Bridgeport,  Conn.;  dead. 

Hawes,  Frank  B.,  b.  Lowell;  24,  S.;  clerk,  Springfield;  May 
31,  '61;  wd.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
1909,  City  Hall,  Lowell. 

Hendrick,  Joel  H.,b.  West  Suffield,  Conn.;  24,  S.;  mechanic, 
Chicopee;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  head  by  rifle  ball,  June  25, 
'62,  Oak  Grove;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1884  and  1885 
member  Common  Council,  1886  Alderman,  Springfield; 
1897  to  1906  inclusive,  County  Commissioner,  Hampden 
Co.;  Commander  Post  16,  G.  A.  R.  1886;  in  1908,  Spring 
field;  '  'James  "  on  State  House  rolls. 

Hendrick,  Oren  A.,  b.  Agawam;  23,  S.;  gold  chain  maker, 
Longmeadow;  May  31,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  '63,  for  com. 
General  E.  A.  Wild's  Colored  Brigade;  a  former  member 
of  the  City  Guard;  dead. 

Hillman,  Erastus,  b.  East  Brookfield;  20,  S.;  lawyer,  Spring 
field;  May  31,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  28,  '62,  disa. 

Hogan,   Edwin  T.,   b.   Pittsfield;    27,   M.;    clerk,   Chicopee; 

May  31,  '61;   desert.  March  26,  '62;   Newell  makes  name 

"Edward  J." 
Horr,   Charles  H.,  b.   Pelham;    26,   S.;    farmer,   Springfield; 

May  31,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  26,  '61,  disa. 
Hunt,  Henry  M.,  b.  Springfield;  22,  S.;  engraver,  Springfield; 


COMPANY  F  437 

May  31,  '61;  d.  Jan.  6,  '62,  Washington,  D.  C.;  he  was 
the  first  Springfield  soldier  to  die  in  the  service ;  his  disease 
being  small  pox,  his  body  could  not  be  sent  home  for 
burial. 

Hunt,  Jared  C.,  (R),  b.  Northampton;  28,  M.;  marble  agent, 
Springfield;  Aug.  22,  '62;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Agawam; 
wd.  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania ;  d.  of  wds.,  June  13,  '64, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Hunt,  Josiah  C.,  (Mus.),  b.  Longmeadow;  23,  S.;  drummer, 
Longmeadow;  May  31,  '61;  dis.  Sept.  19,  '62,  disa. ; 
later  in  Co.  A.,  3d  Mass.  Cav. 

Huntington,  Andrew  T.,  b.  Savannah,  Ga. ;  20,  S. ;  bookkeeper, 
Springfield;  prom.  Commissary  Sergt.;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63; 
trans,  as  Hospital  Steward,  U.  S.  Army,  April  18,  '64; 
dis.  July,  '65;  one  year  clerk,  U.  S.  Treasury  Department; 
from  Aug.  '66  to  Sept.  17,  '73  in  banking  house  of  Jay 
Cook  &  Co.;  Aug.  1,  '78,  appointed  clerk,  Treasury 
Department  and  has  served  continuously  to  date,  Jan. 
14,  1908;  Chief  of  the  division  of  Loans  and  Currency 
since  Feb.,  1889. 

Jackson,  Stephen  K.,  b.  Hermon,  N.  Y.;  22,  S.;  carpenter, 
Chicopee;  May  31,  '61;  trans.  V.  R.  C.,  Feb.  15,  '64; 
dis.  June  24,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 

Jones,  Henry  M.,  b.  Spencer;  22,  S.;  hairdresser,  Spencer; 
May  31,  '61;  wd.  leg,  Salem  Heights;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
in  1872  in  boot  shop,  Honesdale,  Pa.;  d.  Jan.  14,  1887. 

Justin,  George  D.,  b.  South  Deerfield;  24,  S.;  clerk,  Chicopee; 
May  31,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill  and  capt.; 
after  brief  stay  in  Richmond,  was  paroled  and  taken  to 
David's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor,  where  he  d.  of  wds., 
Aug.  22,  '62. 

Kendall,  Frank  H.,  b.  West  Cambridge;  35,  — ;  engineer, 
Boston;  Sept.  12,  '61;  desert.  May  1,  '63;  Newell  says 
"Frank  L." 

Kenney,  Morgan  W.,  b.  Ireland;  carpenter,  Springfield;  May 
31,  '61;  desert.  April  3,  '63,  while  on  ten  days'  furlough. 

Keyes,  William  D.,  b.  Springfield;  24,  S.;  carpenter,  Spring 
field;  May  31,  '61;  injured  while  working  on  fortifica 
tions  at  Harrison's  Landing,  '62;  was  sent  to  the  hosp. 
and  did  not  return  until  March  27,  '63;  wd.  two  fingers, 
Spottsylvania;  through  hospitals  in  Fredericksburg, 


438 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


J.  w.  CLARK, 

S.  C.  DAMON, 


Com.  Serg't.  A.  T.  HUNTINGTON, 
CORP.  A.  D.  SHAW. 


Washington  and  Philadelphia,  he  reached  Springfield, 
June  21,  '64,  where  he  was  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1875, 
carpenter  and  joiner,  Springfield;  d.  Sept.  28,  1906. 

Knapp,  Horace  H.,  b.  Lowell;  19,  S.;  clerk,  Chicopee;  May 
31,  '61;  in  winter  of  '62,  detailed  to  serve  in  the  Balloon 
Corps,  remaining  until  the  beginning  of  the  Gettysburg 
campaign;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  clerk  in  Lowell 
bleachery,  Lowell;  d/1908,  Lowell. 

Knight,  John  L.,  b.  Leicester;  19,  S.;  book  binder,  Spring 
field;  May  31, '61;  wd.  hand,  Fair  Oaks;  re.  Dec.  21, '63; 
Corp.,  April,  '64;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  as 
mounted  Orderly  on  Staff  of  General  Oliver  Edwards, 
severly  wd.  at  Opequon,  Sept.  19,  '64,  and  horse  was  shot 
under  him;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  as 
Sergt.,  July  16,  '65;  book  binder,  Springfield,  many  years; 
rejoined  City  Guard  and  filled  all  grades  to  Captaincy, 
holding  that  position  ten  years;  in  E.  K.  Wilcox  Post, 
G.  A.  R.  held  every  office  to  the  command;  twice  was 


COMPANY  F  439 

sent  to  National  Encampments  of  the  Grand  Army  and 
was  aide  on  Staff  of  Commander-in-Chief  Burdette;  in 
1883  and  1884  served  in  the  Common  Council;  in  1885 
was  an  Alderman;  in  1886  and  1887  was  Representative 
in  the  Legislature;  in  1888  was  appointed  inspector  of 
factories  and  public  buildings,  a  position  held  till  his 
death,  Feb.,  1898. 

Lathrop,  Edwin  W.,  b.  East  Longmeadow;  21,  S.;  clerk, 
Longmeadow;  May  31,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  27,  '62,  disa.;  in 
1872,  grocer,  Springfield;  d.  April,  1907. 

Loomis,  Victor  O.,  b.  New  York  City;  23,  S.;  printer,  Spring 
field;  May  31,  '61;  desert,  as  Corp.,  Sept.  12,  '62. 

McAllister,  Daniel,  b.  Scotland;  24,  M.;  soldier,  Chicopee; 
May  31,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  Newell  says  age  37,  and 
name  "Duncan." 

Magee,  Nelson,  (R),  b.  Canada;  18,  S.;  farmer,  Pittsfield; 
March  5,  '62;  dis.  Sept.  26,  '62,  disa.;  later,  Co.  I, 
4th  Mass.  Cav. 

Magrath,  Lawrence,  b.  Boston;  21,  S.;  saddler,  Chicopee; 
May  31,  '61;  wd.  chest,  Fair  Oaks;  d.  Aug.  8,  '62,  of 
wds.  received  at  Malvern  Hill. 

Matthews,  William,  b.  New  Braintree;  21,  — ;  clerk,  Spring 
field;  May  31,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  7,  '61,  disa.;  in  1869,  clerk, 
Grand  Union  Hotel,  Saratoga  Springs,  N.  Y.;  Newell 
says  "Wm.  H." 

Mead,  George  B.,  b.  Malone,  N.  Y. ;  20,  S.;  printer,  Chicopee; 
May  31,  '61;  capt.  Malvern  Hill,  confined  three  weeks 
in  Richmond,  then  on  Belle  Island,  till  Aug.  6,  '62; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  en.  Dec.  31,  '64,  Co.  F,  3d  Mass.  Cav.; 
Sergt.,  March  1,  '65;  prom.  Second  Lieut.,  Oct.  5,  '65; 
dis.  same  date,  ex.  of  s. ;  for  several  years,  Chief  of  police, 
Chicopee;  in  1875,  detective  in  employ  of  B.  &  A.  R.  R., 
Springfield;  dead. 

Moffatt,  Michael  H.,  b.  Ireland;  20,  S.;  harness  maker,  Chico 
pee;  May  31,  '61;  d.  May  8,  '64,  of  wds.  received  at 
Chancellorsville . 

Moran,  Patrick,  (R),  b.  Ireland;  28,  S.;  carpenter,  New  York 
City;  Jan.  8,  '64,  cr.  West  Springfield;  trans.  U.  S. 
Navy,  April  27,  '64. 

Morse,  James  G.,  b.  Suffield,  Conn.;  22,  S.;  tailor,  Spring 
field;  May  31,  '61;  wd.  hand,  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  Oct.  15, 
'62,  disa. ;  dead. 


440  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Mullen,  Patrick,  (R),  b.  Ireland;  21,  S.;  laborer,  Greenfield; 
March  5,  '62;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th 
Mass. ;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass. ;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65. 

Newell,  William  S.,  b.  Pelham;  21,  S.;  clerk,  Springfield; 
May  31,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Noble,  Wilbur  W.,  b.  Springfield;  22,  S.;  mechanic,  Spring 
field;  May  31,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Phelps,  Frank  H.,  b.  Springfield;  22,  S.;  clerk,  Springfield; 
May  31,  '61;  deserted  June  13,  '63;  Newell  says,  "At 
Fairfax  Station,  Va.,  he  trans,  himself,  without  the 
usual  forms,  to  the  U.  S.  Navy  and  served  until  the  end 
of  the  war;"  in  1875,  employed  by  the  Adams  Express, 
Springfield;  d.  1899. 

Pierce,  Edwin  C.,  (Corp.),  b.  Nashua,  N.  H.;  23,  S.;  orna 
mental  painter,  Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  dis.  Sept.  5, 
'61,  for  com.  Second  Lieut.,  3d  Maine  Inftry.;  Dec.  31, 
'61  detailed  Signal  Corps  and  served  with  General  N.  P. 
Banks  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley;  prom.  First  Lieut., 
May  3,  '62;  Captain,  Dec.  22,  '62;  commanded  Signal 
Detachment,  Left  Grand  Division,  and  at  Sixth  Corps, 
headquarters  until  June,  '64;  M.  O.  June  28,  '64;  in 
1875,  decorative  painter,  Springfield;  d.  Roxbury,  about 
1902. 

Porter,  Alden,  b.  Belchertown;  20,  S.;  clerk,  Chicopee; 
May  31,  '61;  d.  Oct.  7,  '61,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Presby,  Charles  H.,  b.  Lanesboro;  24,  S.;  painter,  Chicopee; 
dis.  Aug.  12,  '62,  disa.;  in  1873,  77  Union  Street,  Boston; 
Newell  says  "Presbrey." 

Preston,  Robert,  b.  Dorchester;  21,  S.;  clerk,  Dorchester; 
May  31,  '61;  dis.  Sept.  17,  '62,  disa.;  came  back  to  the 
Regiment  in  May,  '64;  vide  Unassigned  Recruits;  dead. 

Putnam,  Silas  L.,  b.  Leicester;  24,  S.;  salesman,  Springfield; 
May  31,  '61;  k.  May  3,  '62,  Salem  Heights. 

Rafter,  Richard,  (R),  b.  Northboro;  21,  S.;  manufacturer, 
Hinsdale;  Feb.  28,  '62;  dis.  April  30,  '62,  disa.;  Newell 
says  "Raftis." 

Regan,  William  O.,  b.  Fairfield,  Vt.;  28,  M.;  weaver,  Chico 
pee;  May  31,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1870,  overseer, 
weaving  room,  cotton  mill;  since  1908,  329  Walnut 
Street,  Springfield. 

Remington,  Benjamin  F.,  (R),  b.  Parma,  Ohio;    22,  S.;    far- 


COMPANY  F  441 

mer,  Great  Barrington;  Jan.  31,  '62;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63, 
cr.  Egremont;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans. 
June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in  1875, 
Springfield. 

Robbins,  Charles  H.,  (R),  b.  Deerfield;  22,  — ;  farmer, 
Springfield;  Sept.  12,  '61;  ab.  sick  at  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Robertson,  Lucien  F.,  23,  S.;  bookkeeper,  Chicopee;  May 
31,  '61;  d.  of  sunstroke,  July  10,  '62,  Harrison's  Landing. 

Rogers,  Henry  H.,  b.  Buxton,  Me.;  22,  S.;  shoemaker, 
Chicopee;  May  31,  '61;  wd.  abdomen,  Fair  Oaks;  desert. 
Dec.  13,  '62,  Fredericksburg. 

Ross,  Levi,  b.  Schenectady,  N.  Y.;  28,  M.;  machinist,  Spring 
field;  May  31,  '61;  prom.  First  Lieut.,  Co.  E. 

Roy,  Augustus,  b.   Canada;    19,   S.;    upholsterer,   Chicopee: 

May  31,  '61;   wd.  shoulder,  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;    in 

hospital  above  eight  months,  dis.  March  4,  '63,  disa. ;  in 

1875,    carriage    painter,    Springfield;     "Ray"    on    State 

.House  rolls;   d.  Jan.  29,  1908. 

Sackett,  Alonzo  F.,  b.  Boston;  24,  S.;  actor,  Springfield; 
May  31,  '61;  trans.  Dec.  5,  '63,  1st  Mass.  Battery;  re. 
Dec.  23,  '63;  after  M.  O.  of  the  Battery,  trans.  Battery 
M,  5th  U.  S.  Artillery;  trans.  March  12,  '65,  9th  Mass. 
Battery;  dis.  June  6,  '65,  ex.  of  s.;  in  1875,  barber, 
South  Framingham;  dead. 

Sawin,  Wm.  J.,  (R),  b.  Hancock,  N  .H.;  27,  M.;  physician, 
Chicopee;  June  18,  '61;  dis.  Sept.  6,  '61  to  become 
Hosp.  Steward,  3d  Vt.  Vols.;  served  as  Contract  Surgeon 
in  3d,  4th  and  5th  Vt.  Regiments,  from  Oct.  1,  '61  to 
June  21,  '62;  Asst.  Surgeon,  2d  Vt.,  June  23,  '62;  Sur 
geon,  Dec.  18,  '62;  Surgeon-in-Chief,  Brigade,  Dec.  26, 
'62;  M.  O.  with  Regiment,  June  29,  '64;  in  1875,  physi 
cian  and  surgeon,  Chicopee;  d.  Springfield. 

Shaw,  Alvin  D.,  b.  Lenox;  21,  S.;  gunsmith,  Springfield; 
May  31,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th 
Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65; 
for  twenty  years  connected  with  Jeffrey  Mfg.  Co.,  Colum 
bus,  Ohio-  two  years  in  city  government. 

Shumway,  Rufus  K.,  b.  Ware;  27,  M.;  painter,  Belcher- 
town;  May  31,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  1904. 

Simons,  Wolfe,  (R),  b.  Poland;  22,  — ;  merchant,  Pittsfield; 
Feb.  21,  '62;  dis.  March  17,  '63,  disa.;  Newell  has 
"Simons  Wolfe." 


442 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


L.  T.  AVERILL, 


N.  F.  WHEELER. 


Skinner,  John  F.,  b.  South  Berne,  N.  Y.;  22,  S.;  farmer, 
Springfield;  May  23,  '61;  dis.  Dec.  7,  '62,  disa. 

Snow,  Henry  B.,  b.  Worcester;  20,  S.;  miller,  Spencer;  May 
31,  '61;  dis.  April  6,  '63,  disa. 

Stowe,  James  M.,  b.  Sharon,  N.  H.;  20,  S.;  painter,  Chicopee; 
Corp.,  Aug.,  '62;  Sergt.,  Jan.  1,  '63;  First  Sergt.,  Feb. 
8,  '64;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Strickland,  George  G.,  b.  Stockbridge;  20,  S.;  painter,  Spring 
field;  May  31,  '61;  wd.  Malvern  Hill  and  capt.,  carried 
to  Richmond  and  kept  in  Libby  Prison  till  July  18,  '62; 
sent  North,  reaching  Bellevue  Hosp.,  New  York,  July, 
23,  '62;  d.  Aug.  8,  '62;  funeral  from  Olivet  Church, 
Springfield,  Aug.  10,  '62,  Union  Guard  acting  as  escort. 

Titcomb,  Wm.  P.,  b.  Newburyport;  21,  S.;  manufacturer, 
Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  trans,  as  Hosp.  Steward,  U.  S. 
Army,  Jan.  29,  '63;  Chief  Clerk,  office  U.  S.  Fish  Com 
mission,  Washington,  D.  C.,  1909. 

Tourtelotte,  James  E.,  b.  Medina,  Ohio;  19,  S.;  clerk,  Spring 
field;  May  31,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  3,  '62,  disa.;  1909,  333  Han 
cock  St.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 

Ufford,  Charles  D.,  b.  Stamford,  Conn.;  25,  S.;  machinist, 
Holyoke;  May  31,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  19, 


COMPANY  F  443 

'64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O. 
July  16,  '65;  in  1875,  employ  N.  Y.,  N.  H.  &  Springfield 
R.  R.;  Messenger  at  State  House,  Boston,  1885-98; 
has  assisted  in  taking  State  and  School  Census ;  has  been 
Asst.  Assessor;  in  1908,  clerk  in  coal  office,  Springfield. 

Watson,  Thomas  J.,  b.  Westfield;  32,  M.;  armorer,  Long- 
meadow;  May  31,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  28,  '62,  disa.;  later 
policeman,  Westfield. 

Webber,  Elliot  D.,  (R),  b.  Brimfield;  25,  — ;  -  — ,  Spring 
field,  June  17,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  12,  '61,  disa.;  later,  as 
George  Webster,  served  a  three  year  enlistment,  25th 
Mass.;  in  1869,  barber,  Spencer;  dead. 

Wheeler,  Norman  F.,  b.  Chesterfield,  N.  H.;  20,  S.;  tailor, 
Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  26,  '61,  disa.;  in  1909, 
commercial  traveller,  Springfield,  (49  Buckingham  St.). 

Whitney,  George  A.,  b.  Greenfield;  24,  M.;  engraver,  Chico- 
pee;  May  31,  '61;  dis.  Jan  28,  '62,  disa.;  Oct.  4,  '62, 
Adjutant,  142d  N.  Y. ;  prom.  Captain,  Feb.  25,  '63;  res. 
May  20,  '63;  d.  1872,  Rutland,  Vt.;  an  old  member 
of  the  City  Guard. 

Wickersham,  Benjamin  F.,  (R),  b.  Philadelphia,  Pa.;  22,  S.; 
armorer,  Springfield;  Aug.  23,  '62;  wd.  hip,  Wilderness; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Wilson,  Edwin  C.,  b.  Southampton;  26,  S.;  carriage  maker, 
Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  Corp.,  Jan.  1,  '63;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  confectioner,  Springfield;  an  old 
member  of  the  Guard;  dead. 

Winter,  Wm.  F.,  b.  Germany;  22,  S.;  painter,  Longmeadow; 
May  31,  '61;  at  Fair  Oaks,  a  Rebel  bullet  struck  his 
musket,  fair  in  the  muzzle,  splitting  the  barrel  five 
inches;  Corp.,  Aug.  18,  '62;  Sergt.,  March  8,  '64;  never 
in  hosp.,  had  no  furlough,  shirked  no  duty  during  the 
entire  enlistment;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  Long- 
meadow;  d.  1899;  Newell  gives  "Wm.  F.  C." 

Wolfe,  Simons,  vide  Simons. 

Wright,  George  E.,  b.  Fitchburg;  23,  S.;  painter,  Spring 
field;  May  31,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  10,  '62,  disa.;  en.  3d  R.  I. 
Cav.,  Jan.  1,  '64;  dis.  Nov.  29,  '65,  New  Orleans,  La.; 
in  1872,  Shreveport,  La.;  in  1907,  Nucla,  Col. 

Wyatt,  David  H.,  (R),  b.  Greenwich;  21,  S.;  clerk,  Spring 
field;  Aug.  20,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 


444  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

COMPANY  G,  GREENFIELD  GUARDS 

This  was  another  militia  company,  organized  July  21,  1853, 
always  held  in  high  esteem  and  having  for  its  first  commander, 
Charles  H.  Munn,  Esq.,  of  Greenfield.  From  the  start  it  had 
included  some  of  the  best  of  the  young  men  of  Franklin's 
shire-town.  Excelling  in  drill,  its  patriotism  was  unques 
tioned,  its  hospitality  and  liberality,  all  that  such  circum 
stances  might  inspire.  The  year  1861,  opening  with  indica 
tions  of  trouble  ahead,  found  the  Company  under  the  lead  of 
Captain  Edwin  E.  Day,  and  as  intense  in  its  devotion  as  any 
body  of  men  could  be.  The  Captain  was  conspicuous  for  his 
leadership,  and  his  Yankee  versatility.  As  early  as  February 
6th,  in  response  to  Governor  Andrew's  general  order  No.  4, 
Company  G  had  voted  unanimously  to  hold  itself  in  readiness 
to  march  at  a  moment's  warning. 

The  news  of  the  assault  on  Sumter  stirred  Franklin  county 
no  less  than  it  did  all  other  parts  of  Massachusetts  and  had 
talk  been  able  to  punish  those  audacious  rebels  of  South 
Carolina,  their  penalty  would  have  been  paid  at  once.  The 
Starry  Banner  floated  from  the  Company's  armory,  and  when 
Colonel  Anderson,  a  few  days  before,  had  left  Moultrie  for  the 
stronger  Fort  Sumter,  Captain  Day  used  his  field  piece  in 
firing  a  national  salute  of  thirty-three  guns  in  honor  of  the 
hero.  When  the  firing  began  on  Fort  Sumter,  Captain  Day 
commenced  to  recruit  his  Company  to  a  war  standard.  April 
20th,  or  six  days  after  the  flag  went  down  in  Charleston 
Harbor,  the  citizens  of  Greenfield  to  the  number  of  twelve 
hundred  repaired  to  Washington  Hall,  their  principal  assembly 
room,  and  with  feelings  at  fever  heat  discussed  the  situation. 
W.  A.  Walker  called  the  meeting  to  order;  W.  Griswold  was 
temporary  Chairman,  making  a  ringing  speech  as  he  took 
the  chair.  A  National  flag  was  brought  in  by  G.  W.  Mark  and 
suspended  back  of  the  stage  and  soon  after,  to  the  tune  of 
Yankee  Doodle,  Captain  Day  led  in  his  Company  of  youthful 
soldiers,  who  were  received  with  rousing  cheers. 

The  Hon.  George  Grennell,  long  famous  in  local  politics, 
was  made  permanent  Chairman,  and  he,  too,  in  taking  his 
position  eloquently  voiced  the  popular  sentiment.  Others 
followed  in  similar  strain  and  H.  B.  Clapp  pledged  the  Guards 
all  the  money  necessary  to  fit  them  out  at  once,  agreeing  to 
wait  for  his  recompense  till  the  town  should  vote  it.  Resolu 
tions  were  reported  and  voted,  and  after  singing  America  and 
the  Star  Spangled  Banner,  at  ten  o'clock,  the  meeting  broke 


COMPANY  G  445 

tip,  the  Union  sentiment  of  Greenfield  being  at  ignition  pitch. 
The  ladies  of  the  town  were  soon  busily  engaged  in  sewing 
for  the  soldiers,  an  occupation  that  continued  to  the  end  of 
the  struggle.  Monday,  April  29th,  came  another  gathering, 
this  time  a  town  meeting  called  to  appoint  and  qualify  a 
committee  to  disburse  such  sums  of  money  as  to  them  should 
appear  necessary  to  properly  equip  the  Guards. 

By  early  May,  the  Company  had  so  far  advanced  in  drill 
and  general  appearance  that  on  the  16th,  a  trial  march  was 
made  to  the  neighboring  town  of  Deerfield  and  back.  On 
the  21st,  grown  stronger  and  more  venturesome,  a  longer  spin 
was  undertaken,  this  time  to  Bernardston  where  a  collation 
was  eaten  at  Fox's  hotel  with  the  relish  that  comes  of  work. 
After  exhibiting  their  paces  through  the  streets  of  the  quiet 
village,  they  started  back,  calling  on  their  way  at  the  home 
of  Ex-Lieut.  Gov.  H.  W.  Cushman,  who  addressed  them  in  a 
fitting  manner.  Before  eight  o'clock,  they  were  in  Greenfield, 
having  marched  sixteen  miles  since  two  in  the  afternoon. 
Saturday,  the  25th,  Captain  Day  telegraphed  Gov.  Andrew 
that  Company  G  was  ready  and  awaiting  orders  to  depart. 
Thursday,  May  30th,  was  a  lively  day  in  the  annals  of  the 
Company,  since  this  was  the  time  when  the  boys  started  for 
Sunderland  by  way  of  the  Deerfields.  At  Deerfield  proper, 
they  were  bountifully  refreshed  in  the  Pocumtuc  House,  the 
people  of  the  village  being  the  most  liberal  of  providers. 
Again  they  ate  when  they  reached  South  Deerfield,  in  the 
Bloody  Brook  House,  though  the  jolly  boys  in  uniform  little 
realized  the  bloody  errand  on  which  they  were  so  soon  to 
start.  At  Sunderland  Bridge,  the  town  committee  was  met 
and  the  Company  was  escorted  into  the  town  with  the  firing 
of  cannon  and  the  shouts  of  the  people. 

In  front  of  the  town  hall,  seemingly  all  of  the  town's  people 
were  gathered,  and  the  Guards  were  welcomed  to  the  hospi 
talities  of  the  town  in  a  delightful  manner  by  Dr.  Trow.  Then 
followed  the  third  meal  since  leaving  Greenfield,  and  after 
that  came  the  drill  in  which  the  soldiers  made. a  fine  appear 
ance.  Supper  came  at  last,  making  the  fifth  repast  for  the 
Company  for  the  day,  and  the  time  was  soon  to  come  when 
these  patriotic  young  men  would  be  very  grateful  if  only  a 
few  mouthfuls  of  this  superfluous  food  could  be  had.  This 
was  their  feast,  later  came  the  long  and  dreary  fast.  The 
homes  of  the  village  were  thrown  open  and  the  Guards  were 
most  comfortably  quartered  therein  for  the  night.  At  eight 
o'clock,  Friday,  after  more  eating,  drilling  and  speaking,  the 


446  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

boys  marched  away,  this  time  for  the  town  of  Montague, 
some  of  whose  representatives  were  in  the  Company  ranks. 
Calls  were  made  at  the  homes  of  David  Hubbard  and  Dwight 
Whittemore  where  refreshments  were  served  and  at  noon 
Montague  was  reached,  where  a  dinner  was  awaiting  them  at 
the  hotel,  a  token  of  the  generosity  of  the  citizens. 

Then  came  speeches  by  T.  IVjI.  Dewey,  Esq.,  Rev.  Mr. 
Moody  and  others  with  an  effective  response  by  Captain  Day. 
After  a  drill,  the  Guards  set  forth  for  Greenfield,  reaching 
home  about  six  p.  m.,  but  before  this  they  had  stopped  at 
the  residence  of  J.  H.  Hollister  and  appeased  any  possible 
hunger  that  might  have  developed  since  their  latest  feat  of 
eating.  Only  sunshine  had  been  encountered,  and  all  re 
turned  in  the  finest  of  spirits,  thinking  soldiering  the  most 
delightful  occupation  in  the  world;  later  came  seamy  sides 
of  the  fabric  and  a  different  tale  would  be  told. 

Friday,  July  14th,  the  county  seat  saw  the  last  of  its 
favorites,  at  least  as  a  company,  for  then,  with  the  Company 
from  Shelburne  Falls,  the  Greenfield  Guards  at  ten  a.  m.,  in 
the  presence  of  fully  three  thousand  citizens,  took  the  train 
for  Springfield.  A  little  before,  drawn  up  in  front  of  the 
Mansion  House,  both  companies  were  addressed  by  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Chandler  in  a  most  effective  manner,  closing  with  an 
impressive  prayer,  and  after  him,  came  the  Rev.  Mr.  Headly 
in  an  equally  appropriate  manner.  Each  soldier  had  been 
provided  with  a  well-filled  pin-cushion  by  the  young  ladies 
of  Miss  Russell's  school,  and  Wm.  B.  Washburn,  subsequent 
Representative  in  Congress,  Governor  and  U.  S.  Senator, 
gave  each  man  a  pocket  Bible.  The  town  had  uniformed  the 
Company,  besides  presenting  each  soldier  with  a  pair  of  flannel 
drawers  and  shirts.  To  Lieut.  L.  M.  Remington  and  First 
Sergt.  Pierce,  admiring  friends  presented  handsome  revolvers, 
while  to  Captain  Day,  D.  N.  Carpenter,  late  Postmaster  of 
Greenfield,  gave  a  purse  of  a  hundred  dollars  and  Charles 
Allen  donated  fifty  dollars  to  be  expended  for  the  good  of  the 
Company.  The  Captain  also  received  an  elegant  revolver 
from  W".  T.  Davis,  Esq.,  of  Greenfield.  Then  came  the 
last  scene  of  all  in  this  drama  of  life  and  war,  the  parting. 
Fond  parents  took  for  the  last  time,  in  some  cases,  the  hands 
of  loved  sons,  wives  clung  to  the  necks  of  departing  husbands, 
sweethearts  through  tearful  eyes  saw  the  dear  ones  go,  as  the 
train  swept  out  of  sight,  on  its  way  to  Springfield;  and  thus 
both  North  and  South  put  on  the  habiliments  of  war  and 
entered  upon  four  long  years  of  fighting  and  heart  breaking. 


COMPANY  G  447 

(For  full  explanation  of  abbreviations,  see  page  332.) 
COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

Edwin  E.  Day,  b.  Gill;  35,  M.;  stone  mason,  Greenfield; 
June  21,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  his  body  was 
bur.  on  the  field,  but  three  and  a  half  years  afterwards, 
it  was  brought  to  Greenfield  and  reburied  in  Green  River 
cemetery;  his  funeral  was  observed  in  the  Unitarian 
church  of  Bernardston,  June  15,  '62,  sermon  by  the  Rev. 
H.  B.  Butler,  singing,  led  by  Wendell  T.Davis  of  Greenfield, 
included  an  original  poem  composed  for  the  occasion  by 
a  fellow  member  of  the  Captain  in  a  local  society;  Capt. 
Day  had  belonged  to  the  Greenfield  Guards  for  several 
years,  and  from  Aug.  5,  '59,  had  been  in  command. 

George  Pierce,  Jr.,  June  1,  '62;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Mill, 
and  at  Spottsylvania,  May  18,  '64;  trans.  June  20,  '64, 
to  37th  Mass.;  was  at  Fort  Stevens,  D.  C.,  July,  '64, 
when  Early 's  raid  was  made;  wd.  Sept.  19,  '64,  Winches 
ter;  dis.  Nov.  13,  '64;  since  the  war  has  made  Greenfield 
his  home. 

Edwin  L.  Knight,  while  2nd  Lieut.  (G,)  was  placed  in  com 
mand  of  the  Company,  October  1,  '62,  holding  this  posi 
tion  three  months. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS 

George  Pierce,  Jr.,  b.  Northampton;  31,  M.;  tin-plater, 
Greenfield;  June  21,  '61;  prom.  Captain;  a  former 
member  of  the  Guards,  he  was  First  Lieut,  when  the 
call  came. 

Lorenzo  M.  Remington;  June  1,  '62;  dis.  Nov.  25,  '62;  in 
1875,  teamster,  Springfield;  dead. 

Nelson  H.  Gardner,  (A);  Sept.  26,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
bvt.  Capt.,  Mar.  13,  '65;  in  1875,  Westfield. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS 

Lorenzo  M.  Remington,  b.  Aurora,  N.  Y.;  27,  M.;  mechanic, 
Greenfield;  June  21,  '63;  was  a  former  member  of  the 
Guards;  prom.  First  Lieut. 


448  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Edwin   C.    Moore,    from  Sergt.,  June  1,  '62;    dismissed  Nov. 

25,  '62;    d.  New  Haven,  Conn. 
Edwin  L.  Knight,   (from  1st  Serg't.,  E,)  July  21,  '62,  acting 

first   in  Co.   E;    assigned   to  Co.  G.  Nov.   1,  '62;    prom. 

Captain,   (E.) 

George  W.  Potter;  from  Sergt.,  Nov.  26,  '62;  after  Fair  Oaks, 
in  hosp.,  inflammation,  left  eye;  rejoined  Reg't.  at  Harri 
son's  Landing;  not  absent  again  during  service;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64;  bvt.  First  Lieut,  and  Capt.,  Mar.  13,  '65; 
in  1869,  machinist,  Greenfield;  d.  Dec.  12,  1896. 

NON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS    AND    PRIVATES 

Adams,  William  H.,  b.  Conway;  21,  S.;  mechanic,  Conway; 
June  21,  '61;  wd.  Fair  Oaks;  detailed,  Nov.  '62,  as  guard, 
3rd  Div.,  6th  Corps,  supply  train;  Jan.,  '63,  as  wagon- 
master,  was  put  in  charge  of  train,  continuing  thus  until 
consolidation  of  Army  at  Brandy  Station;  was  then 
assigned  to  Artillery  Brigade,  ambulance  corps,  6th 
Corps,  as  Q.  M.  Sergt.,  remaining  until  ordered  to  join 
Regiment  for  journey  home;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1908, 
commercial  traveller,  Worcester;  (36  June  St). 

Alexander,  Louis  P.,  b.  Hadley;  24,  M.;  laborer,  Shelburne; 
June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  another  record  says 
"May  2,  '65;"  in  1909,  Boston  Road,  Springfield. 

Amidon,  Solomon  H.,  b.  Rowe;  20,  S.;  mechanic,  Greenfield; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  another  record  says, 
''absent  under  arrest',  July  1,  '64;"  in  1909,  resides  in 
Millers  Falls. 

Armstrong,  Dwight  E.,  b.  Wendell;  20,  S.;  laborer,  Green 
field;  April  19,  '61;  k.  as  Corp.,  May  3,  '63,  Salem 
Heights. 

Arnold,  William,  b.  Worcester;  20,  S.;  laborer,  Greenfield; 
May  18,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  28,  '62,  disa. 

Atherton,  Ralph  L.,  (Corp.),  19,  S.;  laborer,  Gill;  June  14, 
'61;  wd.  leg  and  arm,  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  July  8,  '62,  disa.; 
in  1873,  said  to  reside  in  Gill;  in  1909,  Greenfield. 

Atherton,  Wm.  B.,  b.  Gill;  21,  S.;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  thigh 
and  left  arm,  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  Sept.  4,  '62,  disa.;  Monthly 
Report,  No.  14,  says,  "dis.  as  Corp.,  Jan.  6,  '63,  at  Fal- 
mouth,  disa.;"  in  1908,  farmer,  Gill. 

Atwood,  Philip,  (R) ;   28,  M.;   teamster,  Cambridge;   Aug.  14, 


COMPANY  G 


449 


CORP.  C.  M,  WHITMORE, 
C.  E.  GREEN, 


A.   L.  WILLIAMS, 
A.  B.   PARKER. 


J.   F.  WEBSTER, 
CAPT.  GEO.  PIERCE. 


'62;   trans.  Co.  F,  9th  Reg't.,  V.  R.  C.;    dis.  April  8,  '63, 

Martindale  Barracks,  D.  C. 
Baltz,  John   H.,    (R),   b.    New  York  City;    23,  — ;    farmer, 

Springfield,  cr.  Wilbraham;    Nov.  13,  '63;   k.  June  6,  '64, 

Cold  Harbor. 
Bennett,  George  S.,  b.  Guilford,  Vt. ;  21,  S.;  laborer,  Greenfield; 

May  18,  '61;    wd.  arm,  Fair  Oaks;    trans.  V.  R.  C.,  Nov. 

15,  '63;    M.  O.  June  20,  '64,  as  of  48th  Co.,  2nd  Batt. 

Blodgett,  Charles  G.,  b.  South  Deerfield;  17,  S.;  laborer, 
Deerfield;  June  1,  '61;  wd.  leg,  Salem  Heights,  May  3, 
'63;  Corp.  Feb.  8,  '64;  wd.  and  captured,  May  19,  '64; 
d.  as  prisoner,  Charleston,  S.  C.,  Sept.  28,  '64. 

Bodman,  Artemas,  b.  Williamsburg ;  22,  S.;  laborer,  Erving; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Feb.  23,  '63,  disa.;  in  1869,  farmer, 
Erving;  d.  March  8,  1909. 

Bosquet,  Philieus,  b.  Canada;  19,  S.;  mechanic,  Becket; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  currier,  Becket. 

Briggs,  Andrew  J.,  b.  Northfield;    21,  S.;    mechanic,  Erving; 


450  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

May,  '61;    k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;    funeral,  Erving 
Cong.  Church,  June  15,  Rev.  George  A.  Green  preaching. 

Brooks,  Herbert  F.,  b.  Wendell;  19,  S.;  mechanic,  Wendell; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Sept.  11,  '62,  disa.;  in  1909,  salesman, 
Brattleboro,  Vt. 

Burnham,  David  R.,  (R),  b.  Montague;  24,  M.;  teamster, 
Montague;  Aug.  14,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869, 
bridge  builder,  Montague  City. 

Burnham,  Elihu  D.,  b.  Montague;  23,  S.;  mechanic,  Monta 
gue;  June  21,  '61;  wagon  master,  '62;  dis.  Feb.  1,  '63, 
disa.;  in  1869,  produce  broker,  Plainfield,  N.  H. 

Burnham,  Thomas  W.,  b.  Deerfield;  23,  S.;  laborer,  Monta 
gue;  June  21,  '61;  Corp.,  June  20,  '64;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
in  1873,  mechanic,  Montague  City. 

Burns,  James,  b.  Worcester;  22,  S.;  laborer,  Becket;  May 
18,  '61;  M.  O.  as  Corp.  July  1,  '64;  rep.  d.  1898. 

Burns,  Robert,  b.  Worcester;  24,  S.;  teamster,  Middlefield; 
May  18,  '61;  d.  of  wds.,  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks. 

Cannon,  Henry  B.,  b.  Lee;  27,  M.;  farmer,  Blandford;  June 
1,  '61;  dis.  April  3,  '62,  disa.;  in  1873,  said  to  reside  in 
Spencer.  Newell  says  "Henry  N." 

Cheney,  George  F.,  b.  Holden;  21,  S.;  mechanic,  Spencer; 
June  1,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  30,  '62,  disa.;  later  in  V.  R.  C. 

Cheeseman,  Uriah  H.,  b.  Middlefield;  36,  M.;  mechanic, 
Middlefield;  April  26,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '61;  in  1873, 
farmer,  Easthampton. 

Churchill,  Wm.  M.,  b.  Springfield;  18,  S.;  mechanic,  Middle- 
field;  June  1,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  29,  '62,  disa;  dead. 

Clapp,  Christopher  A.,  (Corp.),  b.  Montague:  19,  S.;  mechanic, 
Montague;  May  18,  '61;  Sergt.  soon  after  Malvern  Hill, 
and  was  sent  on  recruiting  service  with  Capt.  Fred. 
Barton;  dis.  Feb.  12,  '63,  disa.;  was  twenty  years  in 
hotel  business,  Syracuse,  N.  Y.;  in  1908,  retired,  Monta 
gue. 

Cook,  Benjamin  O.,  b.  Pelham;  26,  M.;  farmer,  Amherst; 
June  1,  '61;  dis.  Feb.  18,  '62,  disa. 

Coolidge,  Edward,  b.  Erving;  20,  S.;  mechanic,  Erving; 
June  21,  '61;  wd.  shoulder,  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  mechanic,  Erving;  d.  Erving. 

Dewey,  Edward  S.,  b.  Montague;   18,  S.;  artist,  Montague; 


COMPANY  G  451 

June  21,  '61;  dis.  as  Sergt.,  Oct.  13,  '63,  for  com.  as 
Second  Lieut.,  57th  Mass.;  First  Lieut.,  Mar.  2,  '64; 
prom.  Capt.,  but  was  compelled  to  leave  the  service  on 
account  of  sun-stroke;  in  1909,  Custom  House,  Boston. 

Dewey,  Franklin  W.,  (Corp.),  b.  Chester;  24,  M.;  mechanic, 
Chester;  May  18,  '61;  dis.  Feb.,  '62,  disa., (Newell  says 
Jan.  17) ;  in  1869,  mechanic,  Chester. 

Dewey,  Henry,  (R),  b.  Orford,  N.  H.;  40,  S.;  farmer,  Monta 
gue;  Aug.  14,  '62;  wd.  heel,  May  3,  '63,  Salem  Heights; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Dickinson,  Henry,  b.  Amherst;  23,  S.;  farmer,  Montague; 
May  18,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  later,  served  one  year 
in  1st  Batt.,  Mass.  Frontier  Cav.,  Co.  E.;  in  1873,  farmer, 
Leverett. 

Dodge,  Henderson  N.,  b.  Deerfield;  24,  S.;  farmer,  Deer- 
field;  May  18,  '61;  M.  O.  as  Corp.,  July  1,  '64.  Newell 
says,  "d.  at  Fredericskburg,  from  wds.  rec'd.  in  Wilder 
ness." 

Dodge,  Philip  M.,  (R),  b. ;   21,  M.;   laborer,  Leverett; 

Oct.  14,  '62;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th 
Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65; 
1909,  Dwight. 

Field,  Albert  A.,  b.  Erving;  21,  S.;  mechanic,  Erving;  May 
18,  '61;  Corp.,  June  20,  '64;  missed  no  battles,  was  not 
sick  nor  wounded  in  service;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  later  in 
Co.  M,  3rd  Mass.  Cav.;  M.  O.  Sept.  28,  '65;  in  1909, 
painter,  Turners  Falls. 

French,  Moses  C.,  b.  Orange;  19,  S.;  clerk,  Montague;  June 
21,  '61;  wd.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks,  lower  jaw  shattered 
and  flesh  wd.  in  thigh;  dis.  on  account  of  wds.,  Nov.  18, 
'62;  in  1907,  S.  H.:  d.  Aug.  8,  1908. 

Gardner,  Robert  S.,  (Corp.),  b.  Troy,  N.  Y.;  19,  S.;  artist, 
Greenfield;  May  18,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Boston; 
dis.  Mar.  31,  '64,  O.  W.  D.  to  receive  appointment  as 
clerk,  Adj't.  Gen.'s  Office;  in  1873,  Clifton,  N.  J.;  rep. 
d.  1899. 

Garland,  George  P.,  b.  Beverly;  19,  S.;  farmer,  Springfield; 
June  1,  '61;  wd.  May  18,  '64;  ab.  at  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
Newell  says  "d.  of  wds.  soon  after  in  Fredericksburg." 

Gilligan,  Oscar  J.,  (R),  b.  Wilbraham;  27,  S.;  engineer, 
Wilbraham;  June  1,  '61;  dis.  Mar.  20,  '63,  disa.;  came 


452  .  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

back  as  recruit,  Nov.  20,  '63;  wd.  hand,  May,  '64;  trans. 
June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.; 
M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in  1873,  Springfield. 

Oilman,  Frank,  b.  Haverhill;  19,  S.;  mechanic,  Greenfield; 
May  18,  '61;  wd.  head,  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  April  1,  '63, 
disa.;  in  1907,  N.  S.  H.,  Togus,  Me. 

Gowdy,  Chauncey,  b.  East  Granville;  25,  S.;  cigar-maker, 
Granville;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  thigh,  June  3,  '64,  Cold 
Harbor;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  Willimansett,  1872. 

Green,  Charles  E.,  b.  Leominster;  19,  S.;  farmer,  Wendell; 
June  21,  '61 ;  prostrated  at  or  soon  after  battle  of  Gettys 
burg,  from  whose  effects  he  never  recovered;  trans. 
Mar.  15,  '64,  Co.  K,  6th  Reg't.,  V.  R.  C.;  M.  O.  June  21, 
'64;  from  1869,  onward,  was  several  years  in  Vineland, 
N.  J.;  the  last  twenty  years  of  his  life  were  spent  in 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  dying  there  Mar.  28,  1907;  bur. 
Vineland,  N.  J.  Newell  has  "Greene." 

Hale,  Oscar,  b.  Gill;  25,  S.;  farmer,  Gill;  May  15,  '61;  wd. 
and  captured,  May  18,  '64;  confined  in  Andersonville 
and  Florence,  S.  C.,  until  Feb.  26,  '65,  when  he  started 
'home  on  exchange;  is  supposed  to  have  d.  on  his  way 
homeward,  Mar.  2,  '65,  at  Northeast  Bridge,  nine  miles 
from  Wilmington,  N.  C. 

Hall,  James  M.,  b.  Taunton;  23,  S.;  mechanic,  Greenfield; 
June  21,  '61;  wd.  thigh,  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  Sergt., 
Dec.,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  after  the  war,  mechanic, 
Greenfield;  d.  Feb.  25,  1870. 

Hastings,  John  Nelson,  b.  Greenfield;  20,  S.;  farmer,  Green 
field;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Dec.  24,  '62,  to  en.  2nd  U.  S. 
Cav.;  Corp.,  '63;  M.  O.  June  21,  '64,  ex.  of  s.;  in  1869, 
mechanic,  Greenfield;  rep.  d.  1903. 

Hemenway,  John,  b.  New  Salem;  18,  S. ;  butcher,  Sunderland; 
May  18,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th 
Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65; 
in  1873,  said  to  be  in  Sunderland;  in  1907,  N.  S.  H., 
Dayton,  Ohio. 

Jewett,  Alfred  A.,  b.  South  Deerfield;  23,  S.;  butcher,  Deer- 
field;  May  18,  '61;  wd.  foot,  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania; 
Corp.,  June  20,  '64;  M.  O.  July'l,  '64;  in  1873,  said  to 
be  in  South  Deerfield;  d.  Mar.,  1905. 

Kaulbach,  George  C.,  (Sergt.),  b.  Boston;  26,  M.;  mechanic, 
Montague;  June  21,  '61;  was  color-bearer  through 


COMPANY  G  453 


D.   M.   WILCOX,  H.   F.   BROOKS. 

Boston  and  Washington  to  Kalorama;  was  ordered  from 
Brightwood  to  Pittsfield,  on  recruiting  service,  returning 
to  Reg't.  in  April,  '62;  wd.  shoulder,  Fair  Oaks;  after 
hosp.  and  furlough,  rejoined  Regt.  at  Harrison's  Land 
ing;  First  Sergt.,  Sept.  23,  '62;  prom.  Second  Lieut., 
Co.  B. 

Kellogg,  Alvah  S.,  b.  New  York  City;  24,  S.;  tinner,  Green 
field;  May  18,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Keyes,  Oliver  M.,  b.  South  Hadley;  24,  S.;  mechanic,  South 
Hadley;  June  1,  '61;  wd.  hand,  May  3,  '63;  trans.  Nov. 
15,  '63;  V.  R.  C.;  in  1875,  South  Hadley. 

Lakeman,  David,  b.  Ipswich;  43,  S.;  mechanic,  Greenfield; 
May  1,  '61;  dis.  Jan.  26,  '62,  disa;  in  1869,  farmer,  Ash- 
field. 

Lawrence,  Marcellus,  b.  St.  Albans,  Vt. ;  26,  S.;  printer, 
Greenfield;  May  18,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Lewis,  Miles,  b.  Orange;  20,  S.;  farmer,  Montague;  May  18, 
'61;  dis.  Oct.  16,  '62,  disa.;  in  1873,  Erving;  dead. 

Longley,  Zachariah,  b.  Chester;  43,  M.;  mechanic,  Chester; 
dis.  Aug.  8,  '62,  disa.;  later,  Co.  G,  2nd  Mass.  Heavy 
Artillery. 

McDonald,  James,  b.  Augusta,  Me.;  27,  — ;  tinner,  Medford; 
July  22,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  20,  '64.  37th 
Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65. 


454  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Marcott,  Frank,  (R),  b.  Canada;    25,  — ;   -         — ,  Greenfield; 

Sept.  11,  '61;   trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th' Mass. ;   dis.  Sept. 

11,  '64,  ex.  of  s.;   in  1869,  farmer,  Greenfield;   d.  Brattle- 

boro,  Vt.,  1899. 
Marvel,  Wm.  C.,  b.  Shutesbury;   20,  S.;   farmer,  Gill;   Aug.  8, 

'61;    wd.  right  foot,  Salem  Heights;    M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 

in  1869,  Fitchburg. 
Mather,    Pliny    F.,    (Corp.),  b.   Greenfield;     20,    S.;     farmer, 

Greenfield;    May  18,  '61;    wd.  face,  July  1,  '62,  Malvern 

Hill;   dis.  Nov.  11,  '62. 
Maynard,  George  A.,  b.   Keene,   N.   H.;    25,  S.;    mechanic, 

Orange;   June  21,  '61;    dis.  Dec.  26,  '63,  disa.;   in  1869, 

clerk,  Orange'. 
Meacham,    Wm.    L.,    b.    Becket;     21,    S.;     farmer,    Chester; 

June  15,  '61;    Corp.,  Nov.   1,  '63;    Sergt.,  June  21,  '64; 

M.  O.  June  21,  '64;    1909  farmer,  Feeding  Hills,  member 

of  School  Com.,  1890  to  1893.' 

Megrath,  Christopher,  b.  Greenfield;   22,  S.;  mechanic,  Green 
field;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  neck,  May  3,  '63,  Salem  Heights; 

Corp.,  Jan.  1,  '64;    M.  O.  July  1,  '64;    d.  April  3,  1869, 

Greenfield.     Newell  says  from  the  wd.  of  1863. 
Messinger,  Edwin,  b.  Becket;    18,  S.;   farmer,  Chester;   June 

1,  '61;    dis.  Oct.  1,  '61,  disa. 
Miller,  Robert;    27,  M.;    mechanic,  Spencer;    June  21,   '61; 

M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 
Moore,  Edwin  C.,  (Sergt.),  b.  Greenfield;    23,  S.;    truckman, 

Greenfield;    June  21,  '61;    prom.  Second  Lieut. 
Morrison,  Benjamin  R.,   (R),  b.  Vernon,  Vt.;    Mar.   7,   '62; 

dis.  May  2,  '62,  disa. 
Nichols,  Wilbur,  b.   Stockbridge;    27,   M.;    farmer,  Spencer; 

June  21,  '61;    dis.  Dec.  22,  '62,  disa.;    d.  since  the  war, 

Sturbridge. 
Nixon,  Frederick  M.,  b.  Roxbury;   21,  S.;  printer,  Greenfield; 

May   18,   '61;    wd.   May   12,   '64,  Spottsylvania ;    M.   O. 

July  1,  '64;    from  Boston  went  in  '67  to  St.  Louis,  Mo., 

remaining  there  till  '86;   then  in  Chicago  till  1901;    since 

then,  Bayonne,  N.  J.;    has  commanded  Mansfield  Post, 

G.  A.  R.,  Bayonne. 
Nutting,  William,   (Wagoner),  b.   Deerfield;    29,   M.;    clerk, 

Springfield;   June  21,  '61;   M.  O.  July  1,  '64;   re.  Mar.  4, 

'65,  Hancock's  Veteran  Corps;   dis.  Mar.  4,  '66;   in  1875, 

butcher,  Springfield;    1908,  N.  S.  H.,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 


COMPANY  G  455 

Oakes,  Orange  Scott;  20,  S.;  mechanic,  Orange;  May  18,  '61; 
wd.  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  Dec.  26,  '62,  disa.;  later  Co.  G,  4th 
Mass.  Cav.;  rep.  d.  1901. 

Osborne,  Hubert  P.,  (R),  b.  Blandford;  20,  S.;  laborer,  Rus 
sell;  Nov.  30,  '63;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  dis. 
June  15,  '65;  d.  May,  1906,  Agawam. 

Packard,  Lucien  M.,  b.  Erving;  19,  S.;  mechanic,  Erving; 
May  21,  '61;  d.  Annapolis,  Md.,  Dec.  26,  '64;  had  been 
prisoner  of  war. 

Parker,  Alpheus  B.,  b.  Whitingham,  Vt.;  21,  S.;  farmer, 
Colrain;  June  13,  '61;  wd.  face,  Salem  Heights,  and  by 
sharpshooters,  June  10,  '63,  through  both  thighs,  Fred- 
ericksburg;  dis.  Nov.  18,  '63,  disa.;  in  1908,  Erving; 
has  held  office  of  School  Com.,  Assessor,  Overseer  of  Poor, 
Selectman,  etc.;  P.  O.,  Millers  Falls. 

Paulus,  Nicholas,  (R),  b.  Germany;  45,  M.;  farmer,  Gill; 
Aug.  9,  '62;  trans.  Oct.  9,  '63,  V.  R.  C.,  Co.  227,  1st  Batt. ; 
M.  O.  June  23,  '64;  d.  Sept.  1,  '65;  had  served  three  years 
in  the  German  army. 

Perry,  Rufus  Smith,  b.  Truxton,  N.  Y.;  23,  S.;  mechanic, 
Greenfield;  May  18,  '61;  Corp.,  Aug.  2,  '62;  Sergt., 
Mar.  3,  '63;  never  sick  a  day  while  in  the  service,  nor  lost 
a  meal  when  one  could  be  had;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in 
1873,  mechanic,  Millers  Falls;  d.  Millers  Falls;  bur. 
Greenfield. 

Pierce,  Charles  P.,  b.  Greenfield;  farmer,  Greenfield;  May  18, 
'61;  dis.  May  9,  '62  as  First  Sergt.  for  Com.  as  A.  A.  G., 
rank  of  Capt.  O.  W.  D.;  res.  Sept.  12,  '62;  in  1873, 
farmer,  Greenfield;  d.  April  23,  1888,  while  visiting, 
Keene,  N.  H.;  bur.  Greenfield. 

Pooley,  John,  (Sergt.),  b.  England;  40,  M.;  tailor,  Chicopee, 
May  25,  '61;  First  Sergt.,  Jan.  1,  '63;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63; 
stunned  by  musket  blow  upon  the  head,  May  12,  '64, 
Spottsylvania,  was  captured;  suffered  the  horrors  of 
Andersonville,  eight  months;  on  exchange  and  conva 
lescence  was  ordered  to  his  reg't.  having  been  trans,  to 
Co.  F,  37th  Mass.;  joined  the  same  at  Wilson's  Station, 
Va. ;  came  back  through  Richmond  to  Alexandria  and, 
June  21,  '65,  was  trans,  to  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65; 
d.  1874,  Providence,  R.  I. 

Potter,  Edward  F.,  b.  Greenfield;  18,  S.;  lumberman,  Erving; 
May  18,  '61;  dis.  June  1,  '63,  disa.;  1909,  Gardner. 


456  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Potter,  Frederick  W.,  (R),  b.  Deerfield;  34,  M.;  slater,  Gill; 
Aug.  11,  '62;  wd.  shoulder,  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania ; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  in  Gill  soon  after  the  war  from  his 
wds. ;  bur.  Greenfield. 

Potter,  George  W.,  Jr.,  (Sergt.),  b.  Greenfield;  21,  S.;  truck 
man,  Greenfield;  June  21,  '61;  prom.  Second  Lieut. 

Potter,  James  W.,  (R),  b.  Montague;  27,  M.;  farmer,  Monta 
gue;  Aug.  9,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1873,  laborer, 
Montague  City ;  1909,  Greenfield. 

Potter,  Marshall  A.,  b.  Greenfield;  21,  M.;  lumberman, 
Northfield;  May  18,  '61;  wd.  shoulder,  May  31,  '62, 
Fair  Oaks,  and  in  hip,  Wilderness;  First  Sergt.,  from 
Corp.,  June  20,  '64;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1873,  machinist, 
Keene,  N.  H.;  for  the  most  part,  since  the  war,  dentist 
and  clergyman,  Worcester;  he  was  one  of  six  brothers, 
all  of  whom  enlisted;  two  were  killed  and  two  wounded; 
P.  O.,  Spencer. 

Potter,  Wm.  J.,  (R),  b.  Greenfield;  18,  S.;  farmer,  Green 
field;  Feb.  24,  '62;  dis.  May  2,  '62,  disa.;  in  1873, 
Greenfield. 

Powers,  Neville  J.,  b.  Hadley;  24,  S.;  mechanic,  Greenfield; 
May  22,  '61 ;  broken  down  by  the  rigors  of  the  Peninsular 
campaign,  was  sent  to  David's  Island,  New  York  Harbor, 
where  he  suffered  amputation  of  a  portion  of  his  foot; 
dis.  Dec.  11,  '62,  disa;  in  1869,  house  painter,  Troy,  N.  Y. 

Prentiss,  George  L.,  (R),  b.  Northbridge;  25,  M.;  currier, 
Pittsfield;  April  5,  '62;  dis.  Oct.  23,  '62,  disa. 

Puffer,  Abram  C.,  b.  Montague;  19,  S.;  laborer,  Sunderland; 
April  22,  '61;  d.  Columbia  College  hosp.,  Washington, 
Nov.  28,  '61;  body  sent  home  to  his  father,  David  Puffer, 
Montague,  by  the  Company. 

Rice,  William,  (R),  b.  Becket;  21,  •  — ;  farmer,  Pittsfield; 
April  5,  '62;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  M.  O. 
June  21,  '65. 

Ripley,  Frank,  b.  Barre;  20,  S.;  mechanic,  Montague;  July 
3,  '61;  wd.  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness;  d.  May  13,  '64,  of 
wds.,  Fredericksburg ;  bur.  rear  of  Dr.  Gordon's  house. 

Robbins,  James  E.,  (R),  b.  Greenfield;  21,  S.;  farmer,  Green 
field;  Feb.  24,  '62;  d.  Jan.  2,  '63,  Falmouth,  Va. 

Rockwood,  Elihu  R.,  b.  Albany,  N.  Y.;  19,  S.;  mechanic, 
Montague;  May  18,  '61 ;  wd.  hip,  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks; 
dis.  for  Com.  Second  Lieut.,  37th  Mass.,  Aug.  27,  '62; 


COMPANY  G  457 

prom.  First  Lieut.,  4th  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery,  Aug.  23, 
'64;  M.  O.  June  17,  '65;  his  business  life  was  spent  in 
New  York  City,  a  photographer  of  note,  dying  in  his 
studio,  239  Broadway,  Mch.  30,  1908. 

Ryther,  Charles  W.,  b.  Greenfield;  25,  S.;  laborer,  Green 
field;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  30,  '62,  disa.;  foreman  in 
town  employ,  Greenfield,  1908. 

Ryther,  Willim  E.,  b.  Greenfield;  19,  S.;  laborer,  Greenfield; 
May  18,  '61;  k.  May  3,  '63,  Salem  Heights. 

Sawyer,  Erastus  O.,  b.  Erving;  20,  S.;  laborer,  Montague; 
"June  21,  '61;  trans.  Mar.,  '64,  Co.  I,  24th  Reg't.,  V.  R.  C.; 
dis.  June  25,  '64,  ex.  of  s.;  State  House  Rolls  say,  "ab. 
sick  at  M.  O.,  July  1,  '64;"  in  1909,  mechanic,  Orange. 

Scott,  Dwight  R.,  (R);  25,  M;  pail-maker,  Greenfield; 
Sept.  6,  '61;  trans.  37th  Mass.,  June  20,  '64;  M.  O. 
Sept.  6,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  since  the  war,  Worcester,  manager 
of  planers,  saw  and  grist  mills,  captain  of  steamboat, 
Lake  Quinsigamond,  for  seventeen  years  in  charge  of  city 
scales,  retired  1904;  P.  O.,  64  Locust  Ave. 

Scott,  Francis  A.,  b.  Gill;  N.  F.  R.  save  desert.  Oct.  25,  '61; 
in  1873  was  said  to  be  in  Bernardston.  In  justice  to  a 
good  man,  now  dead,  the  following  history  is  given  on  the 
word  of  his  son  Dwight  :^Born  in  1812,  F.  A.  Scott; 
was  49  years  old  when  he  enlisted,  being  one  of  the  52 
men  brought  down  to  the  reg't.  in  the  late  summer  of  '61 
by  Lieut.  Remington,  while  his  sons,  Dwight  and  Will 
iam  were  at  once  taken  into  the  Company  there  was  no 
room  for  the  father,  and  he  was  waiting  a  vacancy  when 
Capt.  Day,  a  former  schoolmate,  desired  to  send  home  his 
horse,  no  longer  needed  in  Brightwrood;  Elihu  Rockwood 
was  to  go  with  the  steed  and  the  senior  Scott  was  sent 
along  also,  the  Captain  saying  that  he  was  too  old  for 
service  and  that  his  small  children  at  home  needed  him. 

(  "  "Moreover,"  he  added  "you  stay  there  and  I  will  make  it 
all  right,"  but  those  were  hurrying  days,  and  Capt.  Day 
fell  on  the  field  without  saying  the  proper  word,  hence  the 
record.  He  died  in  Worcester,  Feb.  27,  1900.  Not  only 
were  the  other  Scotts  of  "G"  his  sons  but  another  son, 
Charles  T.,  was  in  the  2nd  Heavy  Artillery. 

Scott,  Lewis  H.,  b.  Gill;  21,  S.;  mechanic,  Greenfield;  May 
18,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill;  it  was  late  in  the 
fight  when,  leaning  against  a  tree  he  was  hit  in  the  face 
by  a  spent  ball,  the  same,  penetrating  the  jaw,  knocked 


458  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

out  seven  teeth,  a  fragment  of  one  of  them  lodging  in  his 
tongue,  so  that  a  piece  of  the  same  had  to  be  cut  off, 
his  consequent  weak  jaw  causing  his  dis.  Aug.  28,  '62, 
disa.;  in  1908,  17  Russell  St.,  Worcester. 

Scott,  William  H.,  (R),  b.  Gill;  19,  S.;  painter,  Gill;  Sept.  5, 
'61 ;  wd.  Salem  Heights,  right  knee,  and  in  the  Wilderness, 
foot;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  M.  O.  Sept.  10,  '64, 
ex.  of  s.;  in  1869,  painter,  Woonsocket,  R.  I.;  in  1908, 
N.  S.  H.,  Hampton,  Va. 

Sibley,  Truman  A.,  b.  Readsborough,  Vt.;  28,  M.;  mechanic, 
Greenfield;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869, 
mechanic,  Greenfield;  dead. 

Simonds,  Nathan  H.,  b.  Northfield;  22,  S.;  mechanic,  North- 
field;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1873,  Norwalk,  Ohio,  engineer; 
d.  Feb.,  1902. 

Smith,  Albert,  (R),  b.  Deerfield;  32,  M.;  farmer,  Montague; 
Aug.  14,  '62;  wd.  head,  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  ferryman,  Turners  Falls;  rep. 
d.  1902,  Gill. 

Smith,  Daniel,  Jr.,  b.  Southbridge;  20,  S.;  laborer,  South- 
bridge;  May  18,  '61;  wrd.  hand,  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  Nov. 
15,  '62,  disa.;  in  1907,  S.  H. 

Smith,  Wm.  R.,  b.  Conway;  22,  S.;  laborer,  Gill;  May  18,  '61; 
wd.  left  thigh,  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  Nov.  5,  '62,  disa.;  later 
in  Co.  F,  34th  Mass.;  trans.  June  14,  '64,  24th  Mass.; 
in  1869,  in  South  Adams,  stencil  cutter. 

Stratton,  Samuel  W.,  b.  Morrisville,  Vt.;  19,  S.;  mechanic, 
Spencer;  June  22,  '61;  M.  O.  July,  1  '64;  during  his 
service,  he  saw  only  three  weeks  of  illness  and  even  then 
refused  to  go  to  the  hosp.;  Aug.,  '64,  re.  20th  unattached 
Co.,  sent  to  Gallup 's  Island,  Boston  Harbor,  where  he 
d.,  Sept.  7,  '64,  diphtheria. 

Taft,  Henry  L.,  b.  Heath;    22,  S.;    laborer,  Greenfield;    May 

18,  '61;   Corp.,  '62;   Sergt.,  '63;   carried  the  same  musket 

through    whole    service,    losing    only    one    day's    duty; 

'    M.   O.  July   1,   '64;    in   1907,  wholesale  produce  dealer, 

Amherst. 

Tanner,  Edgar  W.,  b.  Greenfield;  20,  S.;  mechanic,  Green 
field;  May  18,  '61;  Corp.,  June  20,  '64;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
in  1873,  teamster,  Greenfield;  rep.  d.  1898. 
Taylor,  Francis  W.,  b.  Becket;  18,  S.;  mechanic,  Springfield; 
June  1,  '61;  ab.  sick  at  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  Springfield, 
Mar.  22,  1906. 


COMPANY  G 


459 


H.  L.  TAFT, 
D.  R.  SCOTT, 


F.  W.  TAYLOR, 


S.  R.  WHIPPLE, 
W.  H.   ADAMS. 


Todd,  Asa  Emerson,  b.  Hawley;  22,  S.;  blacksmith,  Deer- 
field;  June  21.  '61;  Mar.  3,  '63,  detailed  to  Lowe's  Bal 
loon  Corps;  came  back  to  Reg't.  at  Fairfax  Court  House; 
on  return  from  Gettysburg,  near  Fair  field,  overcome 
by  the  heat  and  left  in  a  farmhouse;  reaching  Conva 
lescent  Camp  near  Alexandria,  was  trans.  Feb.,  '64, 
Co.  I,  24th.  Reg't.,  V.  R.  C.,  serving  as  Q.  M.'s  clerk  till 
M.  O.  June  23,  '64;  rep.  d.  1899. 

Trask,  Charles  A.,  (Mus.),  b.  Worcester;  19,  S.;  mechanic, 
Erving;  May  18,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Wait,  Marshall  M.,  b.  Greenfield;  19,  S.;  laborer,  Greenfield; 
May  18,  '61;  re.  Dec.  22,  '63;  wd.  leg,  Wilderness;  trans. 
June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.; 
M.  O.  July  16,  '65. 


460  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Webster,  Joseph  F.,  b.  Montague;  19,  S.;  laborer,  Montague; 
May  18,  '61;  at  Fair  Oaks,  May  31,  '62,  hit  in  the  head 
by  first  volley  of  the  enemy,  he  fell,  supposedly  dead; 
on  reviving,  tried  by  walking  and  crawling  to  reach  his 
comrades;  after  about  thirty  rods  of  such  effort,  was  hit 
in  his  arm,  then  he  went  down,  as  he  thought,  never  to 
rise  again;  from  Saturday  till  Monday  night,  he  lay  there 
with  no  nourishment  save  two  drinks  of  water,  begged 
from  the  rebels;  thence  was  taken  to  White  House, 
where  the  ball  was  extracted  from  under  left  eye,  his  arm 
was  splintered  and  he  was  placed  on  board  a  ship  where 
he  lay  on  the  floor  three  days  before  the  vessel  sailed; 
June  8,  he  reached  Philadelphia  with  450  other  wd.  men; 
while  lying  on  the  field  was  robbed  of  his  money  and  a 
part  of  his  clothing;  dis.  Oct.  27,  '62,  disa.;  i'n  1908, 
Orange. 

Wells,  George  W.,  (R),  b.  Bernardston;  23,  M.;  farmer, 
Bernardston;  Mar.  7,  '62;  dis.  Dec.  22,  '62,  disa. 

Wheelock,  George  A.,  b.  Greenfield;  18,  S.;  -  — ,  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  re.  Dec.  30,  '64, 
3rd  Mass.  Cav.;  Corp.,  Mar.  1,  '65;  dis.  Sept.  28,  '65; 
in  1869,  Springfield. 

Whipple,  Sheldon  R.,  b.  Sunderland;  20,  S.;  clerk,  Montague; 
May  18,  '61;  one  of  five  boys  from  Wendell  who  walked 
eighteen  miles  to  Greenfield  to  help  fill  Co.  G's  roll  and 
then,  in  the  afternoon  walked  back  again:  H.  Brooks, 
Miles  Lewis,  E.  O.  Sawyer,  Whipple  and  A.  L.  Williams; 
served  three  months  with  the  Balloon  Corps,  with  air 
ship,  Washington,  Profs.  Lowe  and  James  Allen,  aero 
nauts;  wd.  left  hand,  June  18,  '64,  skirmish  line,  in  front 
of  Petersburg;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1908,  East  Main  St., 
Amherst,  Mass. 

Whitmore,  Charles  M.,  (Corp.),  b.  Sunderland;  20,  S; 
mechanic,  Sunderland;  April  22,  '61;  three  wds.  left  leg, 
Fair  Oaks;  sixteen  weeks  in  hosp.,  David's  Island,  N.  Y., 
thence  home,  getting  about  on  crutches  most  of  the  time; 
dis.  Nov.  21,  '62,  disa.;  till  1872,  furniture  dealer, 
Montague;  then  for  five  years  with  Esty  Organ  Co.; 
from  1877  to  the  present,  1909,  Meriden,  Conn.,  running 
an  art  store,  giving  up  the  same  three  years  ago,  on 
account  of  old  wds. 

Whitmore,  George  A.,  b.  Spring  Prairie,  Wis. ;  21,  S.;  miller, 
Sunderland,  May  18.  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  dead. 


COMPANY  H  461 

Wilbur,  James  W.,  b.  New  Salem;  19,  S.;  laborer,  Erving; 
May  18,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1873,  said  to  be  in 
Erving;  1909,  Orange. 

Wilcox,  Dorvil  M.,  b.  Lexington,  N.  Y.;  20,  S.;  student, 
Pittsfield;  July  6,  '61 ;  member  of  Williams  College  in  '61, 
and  is  carried  on  the  rolls  of  the  College  as  a  graduate 
in  '64;  wd.  head,  Wilderness;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  later  in 
3rd  Maryland,  serving  until  end  of  the  war;  graduating 
in  medicine,  Berkshire  Medical  School,  '66,  he  now 
resides,  1909,  Lee. 

Williams,  Amos  L.,  b.  Montague;  27,  S.;  laborer,  Wendell; 
June  7,  '61;  with  others  served  about  three  months  in 
the  Balloon  Corps  in  front  of  Fredericksburg ;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  road  builder,  Orange;  1908  Orange. 

Williams,  Francis,  (R),  b.  Deerfield;  36,  M.;  mason,  Gill; 
Aug.  8,  '62;  reached  the  Reg't.  at  Antietam;  wd.  left 
leg,  Salem  Heights,  also  right  foot,  May  12,  '64,  Spottsyl- 
vania;  was  twenty-four  hours  within  the  enemy's  lines; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64;"in  1872,  stone  mason,  Gill;  dead. 

Williams,  Tyler  F.,  b.  Wendell;  19,  S.;  painter,  Wendell; 
May  18,'  '61;  dis.  July  14,  '62,  disa.;  in  1873,  said  to  be 
in  Athol;  rep.  d.  1906. 

Wood,  Edwin  E.,  b.  Roxbury;  22,  S.;  mechanic,  Roxbury; 
May  18,  '61;  re.  Dec.  20,  '64;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th 
Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65. 

Wright,  Gaius  T.,  b.  Montague;  20,  S.;  laborer,  Montague; 
May  18,  '61;  wd.  Fair  Oaks,  right  cheek;  re.  Dec.  21, 
'63;  k.  May  5,  '64,  near  Spottsylvania,  Court  House; 
State  House  rolls  have  "Gayous." 

Wright,  George  A.,  (R),  b.  Montague;  23,  — ;  -  — ,  Green 
field;  Sept.  6,  '61;  Corp.,  Nov.  1,  '63;  trans.  June  20, 
'64,  37th  Mass. ;  dis.  Newell  says,  at  end  of  enlistment, 
though  his  name  is  not  found  on  the  roster  of  the  37th; 
in  1873,  farmer,  Montague;  1909,  Montague. 


COMPANY  H,  SHELBURNE  FALLS  INFANTRY 

This  was  another  of  the  original  companies  of  the  Tenth 
Militia.  Organized  in  1857,  its  first  commander  was  Halbert 
S.  Greenleaf,  later  Colonel  of  the  52nd  Mass,  in  the  Rebellion, 
with  Ozro  Miller  as  First  Lieutenant.  The  latter  succeeded 
to  the  captaincy,  May,  1859,  and  was  in  command  when  the 


462  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

war  began.  The  two  towns  of  Shelburne  and  Buckland  con 
tributed  their  best  material  to  its  maintenance.  As  early 
as  February  4th,  1861,  in  response  to  the  famous  General 
Order  No.  4,  the  Company  had  voted  nearly  unanimously 
to  obey  the  call  of  the  Governor  and  it  was  proposed  to  call 
upon  the  two  contributing  towns  to  furnish  new  uniforms  for 
the  service. 

News  from  Sumter  set  the  villages  aflame,  and  the  call 
from  Washington  for  troops  met  with  an  immediate  and 
hearty  response.  April  18th,  the  flag  was  hoisted  from  the 
armory,  a  salute  of  thirty-two  guns  was  fired,  and  each 
township  voted  five  hundred  dollars  for  uniforms  and  proper 
equipment  of  the  Company.  Four  days  later,  or  April  22nd, 
a  public  meeting  was  held  in  Shelburne  Falls,  attended  by 
the  most  prominent  people  of  the  locality.  The  Hon.  Carver 
Hotchkiss  presided  and  F.  J.  Pratt,  Esq.,  was  Secretary. 
Speeches  were  made  by  the  Chairman,  the  Revs.  W.  F.  Loomis 
and  E.  H.  Gray,  E.  Maynard,  Mr.  Thayer  and  others.  Messrs. 
Hotchkiss,  Lamson  and  Maynard  pledged  their  property,  as 
far  as  it  was  necessary,  for  the  support  of  families  of  volun 
teers.  Enthusiastic  loyalty  was  the  pervading  tone  of  the 
meeting.  The  large  sum  of  fifteen  hundred  dollars  was  sub 
scribed  for  the  purchase  of  revolvers  and  bowie-knives  for 
the  Company,  a  contribution  that  would  not  have  been  made 
had  the  people  known  as  much  of  war  as  they  did  a  few  months 
later.  This  first  assemblage  for  the  furtherance  of  enlistment 
adjourned  with  three  cheers  for  the  Union. 

Annals  of  the  period  are  not  numerous,  but  it  is  on  record 
that  May  15th,  a  trial  march  was  made  by  the  Company 
through  Buckland  to  Ashfield,  camping  there  for  the  night, 
the  next  day  proceeding  to  Conway,  where  camp  was  pitched 
for  a  second  night.  In  both  places  the  utmost  hospitality 
was  enjoyed,  every  one  being  anxious  to  express  appreciation 
of  the  patriotic  action  of  the  men.  In  Buckland  pupils  of 
the  young  ladies'  school,  equipped  with  flags,  were  arrayed 
upon  the  common  and  as  the  line  approached,  saluted  with 
waving  flags,  handkerchiefs  and  cheers.  The  wife  of  Dr. 
Trow,  the  village  pastor,  Mrs.  Lord,  and  other  patriotic 
ladies  of  the  town  brought  baskets  of  provisions  fresh  from 
their  homes,  a  welcome  feast  for  the  soldiers  who,  having 
stacked  their  guns,  soon  consumed  the  offering.  One  of  the 
good  women  in  her  exuberance  of  generosity  and  loyalty, 
accompanied  with  impassioned  gestures,  exclaimed  to  some 
of  the  soldiers  near,  "If  you  ever  prove  traitors  or  back  out 


COMPANY  H  463 

in  this  glorious  cause,  you  shall  never  have  another  piece  of 
Buckland  pie."  Judging  from  the  record  made  by  Company 
H,  there  were  very  few  of  the  men  who  were  not  eligible  to 
a  second  piece  of  Buckland  pastry  when  the  war  was  over. 

Friday,  June  14th,  the  Company  was  due  in  Springfield. 
The  departure  and  the  separation  from  homes  and  friends 
left  a  deep  impression  on  all  who  participated  or  witnessed. 
Prayers  were  offered,  benedictions  pronounced,  tokens  of  love 
and  memory  given,  and  the  Captain  of  the  Company,  standing 
on  the  balcony  of  the  hotel  said,  "Citizens,  I  accept  the  sacred 
trust  you  have  committed  to  me — that  of  your  sons.  I  promise 
to  do  the  best  I  can  for  them;  I  will  protect  them,  I  will  watch 
over  them,  and  I  trust  I  shall  bring  them  back  no  worse  than 
when  I  take  them."  He  kept  his  promise  well,  for  a  father 
could  not  have  cared  more  tenderly  for  his  children  than  did 
Captain  Miller  for  the  young  men  whom  he  led.  His  precept 
and  example  were  all  that  the  most  exacting  could  demand. 
Being  the  senior  Company,  it  had  the  honor  of  the  right  of 
the  line,  a  post  of  honor  and  of  danger  as  .well.  At  Fair  Oaks, 
a  good  account  was  given,  Company  H  contributing  the 
first  death  from  the  Regiment,  viz,  that  of  Henry  C.  Sever 
ance.  Second  Lieut.  Leland  was  mortally  wounded  and 
First  Sergt.  Cutler  fell  at  his  post.  It  was  a  sad  day  for  the 
towns  of  Franklin  County  when  news  of  battle  arrived,  for 
it  told  of  ten  sons  killed  and  nineteen  wounded,  some  of  them 
mortally,  and  others  to  be  maimed  for  life.  Only  a  little  later 
the  brave  Captain  himself  was  to  fall  at  Malvern  Hill. 

After  the  parting  in  Shelburne  Falls  the  Company  pro 
ceeded  to  Greenfield,  where  another  farewell  scene  was  had, 
and  thence  with  Company  G,  the  train  was  taken  for  Spring 
field,  where  Company  H  took  its  place  in  the  regimental  line. 

(For  full  explanation  of  abbreviations,  see  page  332.) 
COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

Ozro  Miller,  b.  Dummerston,  Vt.;  34,  M.;  manufacturer, 
Shelburne;  June  21,  '61;  prom.  Major.  The  son  of  the 
Hon.  Thos.  Miller,  the  future  captain  had  the  advantages 
of  home  and  the  local  schools  until  about  eighteen  years 
old;  then  followed  alternations  of  farm  and  academy 
with  school  teaching  winters  till  he  was  twenty-one; 
next  came  a  period  at  sea,  followed  by  a  trial  of  the  drug 


464  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

business  in  Boston ;  after  a  brief  stay  at  home  he  suddenly 
started  for  California,  thus  taking  two  years  of  his  life; 
marrying  soon  after,  he  came  to  Shelburne  Falls  and 
engaged  in  manufacturing;  having  been  Captain  of 
Co.  H,  two  years  before  the  war,  he  was  the  logical  one  to 
lead  it  when  the  war  came. 

Flavel  Shurtleff ;  July  21,  '62,  from  A;  wd.  throat,  May  3,  '63, 
Salem  Heights;  wd.  left  arm,  May  6,  '64,  Wilderness; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  bvt.  Major,  Mar.  13,  '65;  in  1875, 
retail  shoe  business,  East  Boston;  in  1908,  East  Boston. 

Wm.  Streeter;  through  consolidation  of  B,  D  and  H,  May  19, 
'64;  Capt.  Streeter  of  B  was  in  command  until  M.  O. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS 

Chandler  J.  Woodward,  b.  Conway;  30,  M.;  mechanic,  Buck- 
land;  June  21,  '61;  res.  June  12,  '62;  in  1908,  P.  O. 
address,  Neosho,  Mo. 

Joseph  H.  Bennett;  from  Co.  I;  dismissed  Nov.  25,  '62;  in 
1875,  Chicopee  Falls. 

Allen  Sage  Mansir;  June  21,  '62,  from  Co.  A;  trans.,  as  Q.  M., 
to  Field  and  Staff. 

William  Streeter;    Sept.  28,  '62,  prom.  Captain,  Co.  B. 

Alanson  E.  Munyan;  Dec.  26,  '62,  from  Sergt.,  Co.  C.;  wd. 
May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania,  d.  from  wds.,  May  21,  '64, 
Fredericksburg. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS 

Benjamin  F.  Leland;  38,  S.;  mechanic,  Buckland;  June  21, 
'61;  wd.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks,  d.  from  wds.  the  next 
day ;  his  conduct  in  the  fight  was  soldierly  in  the  extreme, 
when  wd.  in  the  abdomen  by  a  minie  ball  he  tried  to 
crawl  off  the  field  but  could  not,  thus  spending  the  night 
upon  the  ground ;  the  next  day  he  was  brought  in  by  his 
men  and  survived  his  wd.  thirty-six  hours;  like  a  brave 
man  he  died  saying,  "I  have  done  my  duty  and  am 
ready  to  depart." 

William  Streeter;  from  Sergt.,  June  16,  '62;  prom.  First 
Lieut. 

Alfred  E.  Midgely;  Jan.  25,  '63,  from  Corp.;  wd.  on  skirmish 
line,  May  5,  Wilderness;  d.  from  the  same  May  12,  '62. 


COMPANY  H 


465 


1st.  Serg't.  W.  W.  CARPENTER,     Serg't.  J.  W.  BIGELOW,      Capt.  WM.  STREETER, 
N.  W.  SMITH,  Serg't.  H.  C.  SEVERANCE,  F.  O.  MORTON. 


NON-COMMISSIONED    OFFICERS    AND    PRIVATES 

Allis,  John  D.,  b.  Conway;  24,  S.;  farmer,  Conway;  April 
30,  '61;  wd.  July  I,  '62,  Malvern  Hill;  captured  and 
taken  to  Richmond  with  Major  Miller  and  James  Wil 
liams;  carried  like  sheep  in  a  lumber  wagon,  twenty-four 
miles  in  four  hours;  shot  just  above  the  knee,  the  ball 
was  not  removed  for  seventeen  days;  July  19,  left  for 
David's  Island,  New  York,  where  he  d.  Jan.  5,  '63; 
bur.  in  Conway,  Jan.  11,  '63. 

Auger,  Valentine  J.,  b.  Germany;  20,  S.;  baker,  Buckland; 
June  21,  '61;  for  two  winters  at  Brightwood  and  Rappa- 
hannock,  worked  in  the  regimental  bakery;  M.  O.  July 
1,  '64;  since  the  war,  Baltimore,  Md.  State  House  rolls 
have  "Auger." 

Austin,  Chauncey  L.,  (R),  b.  Bozra,  Conn.;  19,  S.;  cutter, 
Shelburne,  cr.  Buckland;  Jan.  5,  '64;  trans.  June  19,  '64, 
37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  prom. 
Corp.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  d.  Aug.  4,  73,  Shelburne  Falls 
and  bur.  there. 


466  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Austin,  John  E.,  b.  Manchester,  Conn.;  20,  S.;  mechanic, 
Shelburne;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  left  arm,  May  31,  '62, 
Fair  Oaks,  and  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
in  1908,  mechanic,  Shelburne  Falls. 

Avery,  John,  b.  Charlemont;  21,  S.;  farmer,  Charlemont; 
June  10,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill;  dis.  from 
hosp.,  Philadelphia,  Feb.  9,  '63,  disa.;  in  1908,  mechanic, 
Shelburne  Falls. 

Bard,  Peter,  b.  Canada;  26,  M.;  carpenter,  Colrain;  June  7, 
'61;  trans.  Feb.  18,  '62,  Western  gunboat  service;  first, 
on  the  Cincinnati,  had  ribs  broken  at  Island  No.  10;  wd. 
by  splinter,  Vicksburg;  at  Fort  Pillow,  Cincinnati  was 
sunk  by  rebel  ram  and  Bard  was  placed  on  receiving  ship, 
Clara  Dolson;  dis.  Dec.  9,  '62,  disa.;  re.  July  26,  '63, 
Co.  A,  15th  Mass.;  captured  June  22,  '64  and  taken  to 
Libby  Prison;  after  two  days  and  nights,  paroled  and 
exchanged;  July  28,  '64,  trans.  20th  Mass.;  M.  O. 
July  16,  '65;  in  1908,  Westfield. 

Bardwell,  Frank  D.,  (R),  b.  Whately;  20,  S.;  farmer,  Shel 
burne;  Aug.  28,  '62;  wd.  Wilderness,  elbow;  suffered 
from  wd.  till  end  of  life;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  Mar.  23, 
1873,  New  Milford,  Conn. 

Bartlett,  Joseph  F.,  b.  Ware,;  18,  S.;  clerk,  Pelham;  June  21, 
'61;  Corp.,  Nov.  1,  '62;  Sergt.,  May  1,  '63;  re.  Dec.  20, 
'63;  wd.  May  5,  '64,  right  thigh;  trans.  June  20,  '64, 
Co.  I,  37th  Mass.;  First  Sergt.,  Sept.  17,  '64;  prom. 
Second  Lieut.,  May  24,  '65;  First  Lieut.,  June  1,  '65; 
trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65; 
except  for  three  months  in  hosp.  with  wd.  and  a  thirty- 
day's  furlough,  had  continuous  service;  for  nearly  forty 
years,  merchant,  Turners  Falls;  in  town  affairs,  has  held 
many  offices,  as  Water  Commissioner,  Overseer  of  the 
Poor,  School  Committee,  Selectman,  twice  Chairman  of 
board,  Representative  in  Legislature,  '78  and  '88;  State 
Senator,  '93  and  94,  in  both  branches  serving  on  impor 
tant  committees,  twice  on  recess  committees;  | six  terms 
has  commanded  Post  162,  G.  A.  R.,  and  in  '98  was  Senior 
Vice-Commander,  Department  Mass.;  is  a  director  in 
Crocker  National  Bank,  Vice-Pres.  Crocker  Savings  Bank, 
and  Pres.  Franklin  Electric  Light  Co.  Says  his  life  after 
the  Wilderness,  is  owed  to  Andrew  Sauer  who  carried  him 
more  than  a  mile,  to  a  place  of  safety  two  days  after 
the  fight. 


COMPANY  H  467 

Bates,  Alonzo,  b.  Ashfield;  27,  S.;  mechanic,  Conway;  June 
21,  '61;  wd.  thigh,  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  Jan.  15, 
'63,  disa.;  in  1873,  said  to  be  in  Greenfield. 

Bemis,  Wm.  H.,  b.  Readsboro,  Vt.;  21,  S.;  mechanic,  Wil- 
liamsburg;  June  10,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill 
and  taken  to  Libby  Prison;  bur.  body  of  Major  Miller 
and  marked  his  grave,  making  reclamation  possible  after 
the  war;  paroled  Aug.  1,  '62,  and  sent  to  Bellevue  Hosp., 
New  York;  exchanged,  Mar.,  '63,  and  rejoined  the  Reg't. 
at  Falmouth;  captured  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania,  and 
taken  to  Andersonville ;  in  Sept.  trans,  to  Florence,  S.  C., 
and  in  Feb.,  '65  to  Wilmington,  N.  C. ;  was  with  the  party 
of  prisoners  who  were  driven  out  of  one  side  of  the  city, 
at  the  bayonet's  point,  as  Terry  and  his  forces  were 
entering  the  other;  paroled  at  Goldsboro,  and  Mar.  1,  '65, 
at  Northeast  River  Bridge,  came  under  the  Union  flag;  dis. 
Boston,  July  18,  '65;  in  1875,  Shelburne  Falls;  has 
since  died;  rep.  d.  1901. 

Bigelow,  John  W.,  (Corp.),  b.  Boston;  27,  S.;  manufacturer, 
Spencer;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  shoulder,  Fair  Oaks;  Sergt., 
July  1,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  boot-maker, 
Spencer;  has  been  selectman;  in  1880,  was  Representa 
tive  in  Legislature;  in  1908,  mail  carrier,  Spencer. 

Blackwell,  Lot  M.,  b.  Waterville,  Vt.;  18,  S.;  mechanic, 
Shelburne;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  since  the 
war  in  Washington,  D.  C. 

Blodgett,  Joseph  L.,  b.  Charlemont;  36,  S.;  farmer,  Charle- 
mont;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  farmer, 
Charlemont;  d.  Aug.  12,  1903. 

Boswell,  Dennis  A.,  (R),  b.  Montague;  37,  M.;  laborer, 
Montague;  Aug.  9,  '62;  d.  Dec.  22,  '62,  Falmouth,  Va. 

Brackett,  Henry  W.,  (R) ;  39,  M.;  blacksmith,  Greenfield; 
Aug.  20,  '62;  served  the  greater  part  of  his  enlistment 
as  blacksmith  at  brigade  headquarters;  thought  shoeing 
mules  next  thing  to  being  shot;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in 
1873,  blacksmith,  Greenfield;  d.  Dec.  9,  1899. 

Briggs,  Elijah  M.,  b.  Greenfield;  22,  S.;  mechanic,  Shelburne; 
June  21,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks. 

Briggs,  Pliny  H.,  b.  Greenfield;  23,  M.;  mechanic,  Shelburne; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Dec.  24,  '63,  disa.;  in  1869,  mechanic, 
Wallingford,  Conn.;  dead. 


468 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


E.  M.  BRIGGS, 
JOHN  AVERY, 


CHAS.  F.  POWERS, 
G.  W.  HARRIS. 


Brigham,  Elijah,  Jr.,  (Corp.),  b.  Marlboro;  33,  M.;  mechanic, 
Buckland;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  23,  '62,  disa;  later 
in  Co.  C,  1st  Mass.  Cav.;  in  1873,  was  said  to  be  in  Wor 
cester;  dead. 

Bringolf,  Jacob,  b.  Switzerland;  25,  S.;  mechanic,  Buckland; 
June  21,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks. 

Bringolf,  John,  b.  Switzerland;  35,  S.;  mechanic,  Buckland; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  30,  '62,  disa.;  returned  to  Swit 
zerland  after  the  war. 

Browning,  Charles  D.,  b.  Rutland;  18,  S.;  boot-maker, 
Spencer;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Dec.  26,  '62,  disa.;  later  in 
Co.  M,  1st  Mass.  Cav.;  serving  at  First  Sergt.  till  Nov.  1, 
'64,  then  prom.  Sergt. -Major;  dis.  June  26,  '65;  after  the 
war,  tailor  in  Chicago;  d.  Chicago,  Nov.  28,  1892;  bur. 
Rutland. 


COMPANY  H  469 

Buddington,  Burnam  M.,  (R),  b.  Leyden;  18,  S.;  farmer, 
Greenfield;  Sept.  12,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  27,  '62,  disa.;  in 
1873,  said  to  be  in  Brattleboro,  Vt.;  dead. 

Campbell,  John  R.,  (R),  b.  Andover;  19,  S.;  farmer,  Shel 
burne;  Aug.  14,  '62;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  k.  May  6,  '64, 
Wilderness. 

Carpenter,  Walter  W.,  (Corp.),  b.  Shelburne;  28,  M.;  farmer, 
Shelburne;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  Fair  Oaks,  body,  just 
below  left  shoulder;  was  left  on  the  field  all  night,  used 
well  by  the  enemy,  covered  with  a  blanket  and  given 
water  f  dis.  as  First  Sergt.,  Oct.  28,  '62;  in  1908,  farmer, 
Shelburne. 

Carter,  Nelson,  b.  Canada;  21,  S.;  painter,  Leeds,  Me.; 
June  21,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill;  dis.  Feb.  8, 
'63,  disa. 

Chandler,  Amariah,  b.  Deer  field;  23,  S.;  mechanic,  Shelburne; 
June  21,  '61;  wd.  left  shoulder,  Malvern  Hill  and  had 
eight  bullet  holes  in  uniform;  dis.  Jan.  13,  '63,  disa.; 
mechanic,  Shelburne  Falls,  1908. 

Clark,  Albert  B.,  b.  Ashfield;  22,  M.;  farmer,  Hawley;  June 
21,  '61;  wd.  Malvern  Hill  which,  with  other  ailments, 
disa.  him  for  active  service,  upwards  of  a  year;  rejoined 
Reg't.  at  Brandy  Station;  wd.  Spottsylvania,  right  leg, 
below  the  knee,  ball  never  extracted;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
in  1909,  Spruce  Corner. 

Coleman,  Josiah  S.,  (Corp.),  b.  Buckland;  38,  S.;  mason, 
Shelburne;  June  21,  '61;  was  Corp.  of  color  guard  from 
enlistment  to  end  of  service;  dis.  Nov.  8,  '62,  disa.;  in 
1873,  farmer,  Byron,  Mich.;  dead. 

Conant,  Edward  P.,  (R),  b.  Buckland;  22,  S.;  mechanic, 
Shelburne;  Aug.  28,  '62;  wd.  hand,  May  12,  '64,  Spott 
sylvania;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  dead. 

Cone,  Cyrus  B.,  (R),  b.  Dalton;  25,  — ;  gunsmith,  Ashfield; 
Aug.  16,  '62;  wd.  chest,  front  and  left  side,  May  3,  '63, 
Salem  Heights;  dis.  Dec.  25,  '63,  disa.;  unable  to  walk 
without  crutches  for  three  years  following;  in  1869, 
studying  and  practicing  medicine;  d.  1900. 

Cone,  W.  F.,  b.  Thompsonville,  Conn.;  21,  S.;  farmer, 
Conway;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  Malvern  Hill;  k.  as  Corp., 
May  5,  '64,  Wilderness. 

Conners,  James,  (R) ;  30,  M.;  laborer,  Holyoke;  Jan.  4,  '64; 
k.  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania. 


470  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Curtis,  John  H.,  (Mus.),  b.  Colrain;  18,  S.;  clerk,  Colrain; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  10,  '61,  disa.;  in  1908,  Colrain. 

Cutler,  Charles  D.,  (First  Sergt.),  30,  M.;  mechanic,  Buckland; 
k.  Fair  Oaks,  a  minie  ball  passing  through  his  head; 
before  the  fight  began  he  remarked,  "Now,  boys,  we 
shall  see  work." 

Daufen,    Henry,    (Corp.),   b.    Germany;    30,    M.;    machinist, 

Shelburne;    June  21,   '61;    wd.  mouth,  Fair  Oaks;    ball 

found  and  extracted  eight  months  later;   dis.  Nov.  5,  '62, 

disa.;    in  1873,  said  to  be  in  Beaver  Falls,  Pa.;    dead. 

•State  Rolls  carry  him  as  "Danfer." 

Day,  Josiah  P.,  (R),  b.  Collins,  N.  Y.;  25,  S.;  blacksmith, 
Shelburne,  Aug.  14,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1908, 
blacksmith,  Bernardston. 

Doherty,  Michael,  b.  Ireland;  24,  M.;  mechanic,  Buckland; 
June  21,  '61;  d.  Sept.  17,  '61,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Dole,  Charles  B.,  b.  Shelburne;  19,  S.;  mason,  Shelburne; 
June  21,  '61 ;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  when  he  had  a  thirty  day's 
furlough,  his  first  and  last;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th 
Mass. ;  captured  Spottsylvania  and  taken  to  Anderson- 
ville;  d.  Sept.  14,  '64. 

Drake,  Clement  F.,  b.  Holland;  20,  S.;  mechanic,  Holland; 
June  21,  '61;  re.  Feb.  20,  '64;  wd.  left  hand,  May  5,  '64, 
Wilderness;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  Corp, 
April  6,  '65;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O. 
July  16,  '65;  in  1869,  Supt.  Lehigh  Valley  Spike  Works, 
Allentown,  Pa.;  since  1890,  Weiser,  Idaho;  charter 
member,  McConville  Post,  G.  A.  R. ;  Commander  of  Dep't., 
Idaho,  1904. 

Dresser,  Wm.  O.,  (R),  b.  Erving;  28,  S.;  laborer,  Erving; 
Jan.  9,  '64;  cr.  West  Springfield,  trans.  June  19,  '64, 
37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July 
16,  '65;  in  1908,  Millers  Falls. 

Duncan,  Elijah  W.,  (R),  b.  Deerfield;  20,  S.;  -  — ,  Green 
field;  Corp.,  May  1,  '63;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.; 
dis.  Sept.  12,  '64,  ex.  of  s.;  in  1873,  Supt.  Thompson's 
Queensware  and  Sewer  Pipe  Works,  St.  Louis;  in  1908, 
St.  Louis,  Mo. 

Eason,  Timothy  W.,  b.  Guilford,  Vt.;  21,  S.;  mechanic,  Col 
rain;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1873,  farmer 
and  in  militia,  Vernon,  Vt.;  in  1908,  Brattleboro,  Vt.  j 


COMPANY  H  471 

Edwards,  Lewis  R.,  b.  Charlemont ;  18,  S.;  farmer,  Charle- 
rnont;  June  21,  '61;  trans.  Mar.  15,  '64,  V.  R.  C.;  in 
1908,  Charlemont. 

Emerson,  Josiah  S.,  (R),  b.  Danville,  Vt.;  37,  M.;  laborer, 
Shelburne;  Aug.  14,  '62;  k.  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania. 

Fay,  Elisha  W.,  b.  Enfield,  Conn.;  21,  S.;  farmer,  Shelburne; 
June  21,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks. 

Field,  George  W.,  (Sergt.),  b.  Northfield;  21,  S.;  engineer, 
Northfield;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  10,  '61,  disa.;  rep. 
dead. 

Fogg,  Lucien,  (Corp.),  b.  Thomaston,  Me.;  18,  S.;  boot 
maker,  Spencer;  June  21,  '61;  k.  May  12,  '64,  Spottsyl 
vania. 

Franklin,  John  A.,  (R),  b.  Guilford,  Vt.;  28,  M.;  farmer, 
Shelburne;  joined  Reg't.  at  Antietam,  Aug.  28,  '62;  wd. 
side  and  captured,  Spottsylvania;  released  Aug.  22,  '64, 
thus  being  ab.  at  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1908,  Shelburne. 

Fuller,  Benjamin  F.,  (R) ;  30,  — ;  carriage  trimmer,  Roxbury ; 
Aug.  29,  '62;  re.  Dec.  21,  '64,  cr.  Framingham;  trans. 
June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.; 
M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  rep.  dead. 

Gilbert,  Wm.  E.,  (R),  b.  Worthington;  26,  S.;  farmer,  Hins- 
dale;  Feb.  17,  '62;  dis.  Nov.  1,  '62,  disa.;  dead. 

Gorman,  Michael,  b.  Ireland;  17,  S.;  farmer,  Holyoke; 
June  21,  '61;  k.  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness. 

Gragg,  Wm.  H.,  b.  Colrain;  30,  M.;  tailor,  Shelburne;  June 
21,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  30,  '62,  disa.;  in  1873, .tailor,  Hartford, 
Conn. ;  dead. 

Griebel,  John,  b.  Germany;  39,  S.;  tailor,  Shelburne;  dis. 
Mar.  28,  '62,  disa.;  in  Co.  A,  23rd  Reg't.,  V.  R.  C.,  from 
June  18,  '63,  to  Nov.  14,  '65;  in  1869,  tailor,  Shelburne 
Falls;  dead. 

Grover,  Henry,  b.  Halifax,  Vt.;  26,  M.;  farmer,  Guilford, 
Vt.;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Dec.  24,  '61,  disa.;  rep.  d.  1900. 

Guilford,  Murray  J.,  (R),  b.  Ashfield;  20,  S.;  -  — ,  Ash- 
field;  Sept.  10,  '61;  wd.  side,  Malvern  Hill;  trans. 
June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  dis.  Feb.  21,  '65,  ex.  of  s.;  in 
1869,  farmer,  South  Ashfield;  in  1908,  Greenfield. 

Haigis,  Jacob,  b.  Germany;  25,  M.;  mechanic,  Shelburne; 
June  21,  '61;  re.  Feb.  19,  '64;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th 


472 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


E.  C.  MORTON, 
B.  HASTINGS, 


C.  F.  DRAKE, 


T.  F.  HARRINGTON, 
C.  D.  HOTCHKISS. 


Mass.;  dis.  June  21,  '65,  O.  W.  D.;  in  1869,  mechanic, 
Shelburne  Falls;  k.  by  accidental  discharge  of  shot-gun, 
Jan.  15,  1880.  Borne  on  State  House  rolls  as  "Hargis." 

Harrington,  Thomas  F.,  b.  Heath;  18,  S.;  mechanic,  Heath; 
June  21,  '61;  wd.  shoulder,  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  Dec.  31,  '62, 
disa.;  in  1873,  lumber  merchant,  Turners  Falls;  since 
1884,  wooden  box  manufacturer,  Montague;  in  1908, 
manager  Montague  Electric  Light  and  Power  Co. 

Harris,  George  W.,  (R),  b.  Gill;  20,  S.;  farmer,  Gill;  Aug.  9, 
'62;  joined  Reg't.  on  field  of  Antietam;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
in  1908,  farmer,  Riverside,  Gill. 

Hastings,  Benjamin,  Jr.,  (R),  b.  Greenfield;  32,  M.;  farmer, 
Greenfield;  trans.  V.  R.  C.,  Nov.  15,  '63;  M.  O.  Aug. 
15,  '64;  in  1908,  Gill. 


COMPANY  H  47$ 

Hastings,  John  G.,  b.  North  Providence,  R.  I.;  27,  M.;  boot 
maker,  Spencer;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Dec.  21,  '61;  in  1869, 
dealer  in  fish  and  oysters,  Providence,  R.  I.;  in  1908,. 
Spencer. 

Hastings,  Parmly  C.,  (R),  b.  Greenfield;  29,  M.;  laborer,. 
Greenfield;  Aug.  20,  '62;  trans.  May  18,  '64,  V.  R.  C.; 
M.  O.  June  28,  '64;  in  1873,  said  to  be  in  Wendell;  d. 
Dec.  27,  1884,  Greenfield. 

Henry,  David,  b.  Rowe;  22,  S.;  farmer,  Rowe;  June  21,  '61; 
dis.  Oct.  8,  '61,  disa.;  in  1873,  chair-stock  manufacturer, 
P.  O.,  Zoar;  in  1908,  Deerfield. 

Hermann,  John,  b.  Germany;  20,  S.;  mechanic,  Buckland;. 
June  21,  '61;  wd.  breast,  Fair  Oaks  and  hand,  Spottsyl- 
vania;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  cutler,  Shelburne 
Falls;  dead. 

Hersey,  John  W.,  (R),  b.  Spencer;  20,  M.;  armorer,  Spring 
field;  Aug.  20,  '62,  his  wedding  day,  on  whose  afternoon 
in  recruiting  tent  of  the  tenth  Reg't.,  pitched  on  exact 
site  of  Soldiers'  monument,  Court  Square,  he  enlisted; 
joined  Reg't.  at  Antietam  and  was  armed  and  equipped 
with  an  outfit  actually  taken  from  hands  and  bodies  of 
the  dead  and  then  fell  in  line  with  the  other  soldiers;, 
wd.  foot,  May  3,  '63,  Salem  Heights;  re.  Feb.  20,  '64; 
wd.  head,  Wilderness;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  Co.  B,  37th 
Mass.;  Aug.,  '64,  trans.  Co.  D,  9th  Reg't.,  V.  R.  C.; 
prom.  Sergt.,  Jan.  6,  '65;  dis.  July  20,  '65;  in  1869 
merchant,  South  Hadley  Falls;  in  1908,  furniture 
dealer,  Springfield;  has  held  the  position  of  Deputy 
Sheriff  and  for  many  years  was  a  prominent  court 
official ;  in  1885,  Commander,  Dep't.  Mass.  G.  A.  R. ;  for  the 
last  five  years,  member  of  National  Council  of  Adminis 
tration,  G.  A.  R.,  and  for  nearly  twenty-five  years  has 
been  a  trustee  of  Soldiers'  Home,  Chelsea. 

Hill,  Leander  V.,  b.  Ashfield;  22,  S.;  farmer,  A shfield;  June 
13,  '61;  dis.  April  12,  '63,  disa.;  in  1869,  farmer,  Ash- 
field;  in  1909,  Ashfield,  (Spruce  Corner). 

Hindley,  Solomon  K.,  b.  England;  24,  S.;  teacher,  Spencer;. 
June  14,  '61;  partially  paralyzed  Mar.  31,  '62,  not  re 
porting  for  duty  again  till  June,  '63;  Corp.,  June  '63; 
his  services  were  mainly  in  a  clerical  capacity,  finally  in 
office  of  Gen.  Chas.  Devens,  Gallup's  Island,  Boston 
Harbor;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1873,  bookkeeper,  Worces 
ter;  d.  Oct.  13,  1902. 


474  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Hotchkiss,  Charles  D.,  b.  Windsor,  N.  Y.;  25,  S.;  farmer, 
Shelburne;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  3,  '62,  disa.;  in  1907, 
farmer,  Shelburne  Falls. 

Howard,  George  H.,  b.  Brookfield;  26,  S.;  boot-maker, 
Spencer;  June  21,  '61 ;  did  Provost  duty  at  Div.  and  Corps 
Headquarters;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  store  keeper, 
West  Brookfield;  Commander,  Post  38  and  160;  Aide 
on  Staff  of  Commander-in-chief,  S.  S.  Burdett,  1885-86; 
for  thirty  years  an  invalid  on  account  of  paralysis,  left 
side,  getting  about  only  with  crutches;  in  1907,  West 
Brookfield. 

Howe,  John  M.,  b.  Brookfield;  29,  M.;  farmer,  Brookfield; 
Jan.  4,  '64;  trans.  April  1,  '64,  Signal  Corps;  dis.  July  8, 
'65;  in  1875,  farmer,  East  Brookfield;  d.  May  9,  1905, 
Springfield. 

Howes,  Daniel  G.,  (R),  b.  Ashfield;    24,  S.;   ,  Ashfield; 

Sept.  12,  '61;  wd.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  Oct.  25, 
'62,  disa.;  for  many  years  dealer  in  fish  and  oysters, 
Shelburne  Falls;  for  the  last  three  years  of  his  life  on 
Orr's  Island,  Me.;  d.  May  5,  1908,  Shelburne  Falls. 

Hubbard,  George  F.,  (R),  b.  Barre;  25,  S.;  telegrapher, 
Northampton;  Dec.  29,  '63;  captured  May  19,  '64,  and 
was  in  the  hands  of  enemy  when  he  was  trans.,  June  19, 
'64,  37th  Mass.,  whose  historian  says  his  fate  is  unknown. 

James,  Charles  G.,  b.  Wales;  25,  S.;  mechanic,  Buckland; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  Sept.,  1873,  Seymour, 
Conn.;  d.  Jan.  21,  1900. 

Johnson,  Sylvester  D.,  b.  Hardwick;  22,  S.;  mechanic, 
Spencer;  June  21,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  in 
June,  '62,  his  body  was  exhumed  and  sent  to  Barre  for 
reburial;  a  monument  was  erected  to  his  memory. 

Knapp,  Wm.  H.,  b.  Worcester;  21,  M.;  boot-maker,  Spencer; 
June  21,  '61;  ab.  sick  at  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  another 
record  says,  "desert.,  no  date,  Chain  Bridge,  Va." 

Lamb,  Willard,  b.  Guilford,  Vt.;  30,  M.;  farmer,  Colrain; 
June  21,  '61;  k.  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness. 

Langstroth,  James  T.,  b.  Andover;  23,  S.;  apiarian,  Colrain; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  23,  '61,  disa.;  dead. 

Liddy,  Anthony,  (R) ;  32,  M.;  cutler,  Buckland;  Feb.  29,  '64; 
k.  June  5,  '64,  Cold  Harbor. 

Lilly,  Rufus,  b.  Ashfield;    20,  S.;   farmer,  Ashfield;   June  21, 


COMPANY  H 


475 


C.   L.   AUSTIN, 
J.   W.   HERSEY, 


CORP.  M.  MURPHY, 
1st,  Serg't.  M.  H.  VINCENT, 


A.  TOLMAN, 
J.   HAIGIS. 


'61;  dis.  Aug.  10,  '61,  disa.;  re.  Sept.  1,  '62,  52nd  Mass.; 
dis.  Aug.  14,  '63;  in  1869,  machinist,  Greenfield;  d.  1902. 

Livermore,  Lorenzo  D.,  b.  South  Royalton,  Vt.;  23,  M.; 
mechanic,  Spencer;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  May  31,  '62,  Fair 
Oaks;  dis.  Oct.  27,  '62,  disa.;  later  drafted  and  sent  to 
Co.  I,  12th  Mass.,  July  14,  '63;  wd.  hand,  Wilderness; 
trans.  June  25,  '64,  Co.  A,  39th  Mass.;  trans.  June  2,  '65, 
32nd  Mass.;  dis.  June  29,  '65,  with  a  record  of  service  in 
four  regiments;  in  1872,  Springfield;  dead. 

Luther,  Henry  W.,  b.  Spencer;  20,  S.;  shoemaker,  Spencer; 
June  21, "'61;  wd.  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  Oct.  30,  '62,  disa.; 
re.  July  28,  '63,  2nd  Heavy  Art.,  and  appointed  Corp.; 
d.  Newbern,  N.  C.,  Oct.  23,  '64;  bur.  Spencer. 

Lyon,  Henry  P.,  b.  Spencer;  26,  S.;  shoemaker,  Spencer; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  28,  '61,  disa.;  d.  1901. 


476  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Markham,  Wm.  A.,  b.  Ireland;  21,  S.;  boot-maker,  Spencer; 
June  21,  '61;  Corp.,  May  1,  '63;  Captured  Spottsylvania 
and  paroled,  Charleston  harbor,  S.  C.,  Dec.  18,  '64;  dis. 
Mar.  7,  '65;  in  1869,  boot-maker,  Worcester;  d.  Dec. 
19,  1871. 

Mehan,  William,  b.  Ireland;  21,  S.;  mechanic,  Buckland; 
June  21,  '61;  d.  Oct.  9,  '61,  Columbia  College  Hosp., 
Washington,  D.  C.  State  House  rolls,  "Meehan." 

Merrill,  Asa  C.,  (R),  b.  Monmouth,  111. ;  18,  S. ;  farmer,  Spring 
field;  June  14,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks. 

Merrill,  James  L.,  Jr.,  b.  Montague;  20,  S.;  mason,  Athol; 
June  10,  '61;  at  Fair  Oaks,  carried  his  wounded  brother, 
John,  off  the  field  and  remained  with  him,  directed  thus 
by  Capt.  Miller;  in  Baltimore,  accidentally  shot  in  foot, 
by  patrol  who  was  pursuing  an  escaping  soldier;  dis. 
Oct.  28,  '63,  disa.;  in  1869,  Athol,  stone  mason;  d. 
April  16,  1884. 

Merrill,  John  F.,  b.  Greenfield;  21,  S.;  mason,  Athol; 
April,  '61;  wd.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  hit  in  the  neck, 
the  ball  passed  downward  through  the  lungs;  had  it  not 
been  for  his  brother's  help,  must  have  died;  for  three 
years  after  discharge  could  do  no  work;  in  1869,  in  charge 
of  building  a  bridge,  Zoar;  in  1907,  stone  mason,  Athol 
Center;  d.  July  27,  1908. 

Midgeley,  Alfred  E.,  b.  England;  24,  S.;  boot-maker,  Spencer; 
June  21,  '61;  Corp.,  July  1,  '61;  prom.  Second  Lieut. 

Monroe,  Dwight  F.,  b.  Spencer;  boot-maker,  Spencer;  June 
21,  '61;  wd.  leg,  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  Dec.  14,  '62, 
disa.;  in  1875,  North  Brookfield;  in  1907,  Spencer;  first 
man  wounded  in  the  regiment. 

Morrissey,  John;  21,  S.;  mechanic,  Greenfield;  June  21,  '61; 
re.  Jan.  20,  '64;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans. 
June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  d.  N.  S.  H., 
Togus,  Me.,  Mar.  29,  1887. 

Morton,  Emory  C.,  (Wagoner),  b.  Shelburne;  20,  S.;  mechanic, 
Buckland;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  April  16,  '63,  disa.;  in  1907, 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Morton,  Frederick  O.,  b.  Shelburne;  22,  S.;  mechanic,  Shel 
burne;  June  21,  '61;  Jan.  4,  '62,  detailed  with  forty-one 
others  by  Gen.  John  A.  Dix  to  garrison  Craney  Island, 
near  Fort  Monroe,  Contraband  headquarters,  Depart 
ments,  Va.  and  N.  C.;  Mar.  1,  '62,  overseer,  confiscated 


COMPANY  H  477 

farms  in  Norfolk  and  Princess  Anne  counties,  Va.,  re 
maining  there  the  most  of  the  time  till  Oct.,  '63,  when 
his  knee-pan  was  broken  by  the  kick  of  a  horse;  in  hosp. 
until  dis.  by  order  of  General  Butler,  June  21,  '64;  in 
1869,  lock  polisher,  Norwalk,  Conn.;  dead. 

Murphy,  John  J.,  (Wagoner),  b.  Ireland;  37,  M.;  teamster, 
Shelburne;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Jan.  20,  '64,  cr.  Buckland; 
trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th 
Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in  1873,  cutler,  Shelburne; 
d.  Nov.  2,  1907,  N.  S.  H.,  Togus,  Me. 

Murphy,  Michael,  b.  Ireland;  22,  S.;  mechanic,  Buckland; 
June  21,  '61;  Corp.,  May  1,  '63;  re.  Feb.  22,  '64;  trans. 
June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.; 
M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in  1873,  cutler,  Northampton;  d. 
July  18,  1879. 

Murphy,  Thomas,  b.  Ireland;  20,  S.;  cigar  maker,  Spencer; 
June  21,  '61;  wd.  hand,  Fair  Oaks;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
in  1875,  Chicago,  111.;  d.  1908,  Chicago. 

Nelson,  James,  b.  Franklin,  N.  Y.;  22,  S.;  farmer,  Buckland; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Feb.  13,  '63,  disa.;  k.  Jan.  23,  '65,  by 
the  falling  of  a  limb  from  a  tree,  Buckland. 

Nims,  Silas,  (Sergt.):  38,  M.;  mechanic,  Shelburne;  June 
21,  '61;  dis.  Mar.  28,  '62,  disa.;  d.  in  his  home,  July  28, 
'62;  bur.  Shelburne  Falls.  State  House  rolls  say,  ''dis. 
May  28." 

Packard,  Cullen  C.,  (R),  b.  Cummington;  23,  S.;  dentist, 
Shelburne;  Aug.  14,  '62;  appointed  Adjutant's  clerk 
soon  after  joining  Reg't.  and  served  thus  till  M.  O.  July 
1,  '64;  in  1873,  had  been  a  photographer  eight  years, 
Kalamazoo,  Mich.;  d.  May  31,  1893. 

Parsons,  Henry,  b.  Goshen;  35,  — ;  laborer,  Ashfield;  June 
21,  '61;  wd.  right  arm,  Fair  Oaks;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
in  1873,  Ashfield;  in  1907,  Spruce  Corner,  Ashfield. 

Powers,  Charles  F.,  (R),  b.  Greenfield;  20,  S.;  farmer,  Heath; 
Aug.  9,  '62;  wd.  head,  May  3,  '63,  Salem  Heights;  lay 
on  the  field  24  hours;  trans.  V.  R.  C.,  Feb.  16,  '64;  dis. 
June  23,  '64  from  Mt.  Pleasant  Hosp.,  Washington;  in 
1869,  farmer,  Heath;  in  1907,  Shelburne  Falls. 

Powers,  Lawson  S.;  38,  S.;  shoemaker,  Spencer;  June  21, 
'61;  trans.  Oct,  21,  '61,  regimental  band;  dis.  June  21, 
'62,  disa.;  d.  May  12,  1872,  Spencer. 


478 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


J.  E.  AUSTIN,  P.  C.  HASTINGS,  ANDREW  SAUER , 

CORP.  J.  E.  WILSON,      SERGT.  E.  WOODWARD,       SERG'T.  O.  B.  WOOD. 

Protity,  Lucius  M.,  b.  North  Brookfield;  29,  M.;  shoemaker, 
Spencer;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  26,  '62,  disa.;  in  1869, 
cutter,  North  Brookfield;  d.  Feb.  27,  1885. 

Putney,  Alfred  L.,  (R),  b.  Ashfield;  20,  S.;  -  -,  Shel 
burne;  Sept.  12,  '61;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.; 
M.  O.  Sept.  12,  '64;  in  1869,  physician  and  surgeon, 
Shelburne  Falls,  later,  for  many  years,  New  York  City; 
d.  April  13,  1897;  bur.  Shelburne  Falls. 

Putney,  Nahum  S.,  b.  Ashfield;  22,  S.;  clerk,  Shelburne; 
June  21,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks. 

Rawson,  John,  (R),  b.  Buffalo,  N.  Y.;  24,  — ;  carpenter, 
Springfield;  Aug.  20,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '65;  gas  fitter, 
Boston;  d.  July  16,  1902. 


COMPANY  H  479 

Rhoades,  Edward  B.,  (R),  b.  Saugus;  20,  S.;  gas  fitter, 
Saugus;  Aug.  20,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Riedel,  Jacob,  b.  Prussia;  27,  M.;  mechanic,  Buckland; 
June  21,  '61;  k.  May  3,  '63,  Salem  Heights. 

Russell,  Charles,  b.  Rutland,  Vt.;  21,  S.;  machinist,  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Jan.  20,  '64;  wd.  losing  finger, 
Wilderness;  trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  d.  of  wds. 
Winchester,  Oct.  7,  '64. 

Russell,  Charles  W.,  (R),  b.  New  Bedford;  18,  S.;  farmer, 
Shelburne;  Aug.  15,  '62;  k.  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness. 

Sauer,  Andrew,  b.  Germany;  19,  S.;  mechanic,  Buckland; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  left  Saxony,  1860,  to 
avoid  military  service;  nine  weeks  on  the  sea,  from 
Bremen  to  New  York;  in  1907,  had  conducted  a  men's 
clothing  business  in  Shelburne  Falls,  thirty-seven  years; 
was  two  years  chief,  Fire  Dep't.;  in  1907,  was  serving 
seventh  year  on  School  Com.,  and  eleventh  year,  Board 
of  Selectmen,  Assessors  and  Overseers  of  Poor,  Buckland; 
Pres.  10th  Reg't.  Vet.  Association,  1897-'98.  State 
House  rolls  say,  "Sawen." 

Severance,  Henry  C.,  b.  Shelburne;  21,  S.;  mechanic,  Shel 
burne;  June  21,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks,  the  first 
man  of  Co.  H  to  fall  that  day. 

Sheehan,  John,  (R) ;  28,  M.;  cutler,  Buckland;  Feb.  29,  '64; 
trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65, 
20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in  1875,  P.  O.,  Shelburne 
Falls;  dead. 

Sheldon,  Alexander  C.,  (R),  b.  Gill;  23,  --;  farmer,  Gill; 
Sept.  2,  '62;  dis.  Dec.  7,  '63,  disa.;  dead. 

Smith,  Nathan  W.,  (R),  b.  New  Salem;  18,  S.;  farmer,  Gill; 
Aug.  7,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  since  the  war,  has  lived 
in  Gill,  Bernardston,  Northampton,  Greenfield,  and  for 
the  last  thirty-five  years  in  Millers  Falls,  working  for  the 
Millers  Falls  Co. 

Snow,  Leander  A.,  (Asaph  Leander),  b.  Colrain;  18,  S.; 
farmer,  Colrain;  June  21,  '61;  trans.  Aug.  4,  '62,  to  U.  S. 
Hosp.  Service  as  Hosp.  Steward;  his  said  to  be  the  first 
case  of  promotion  from  the  ranks  to  the  non-commissioned 
staff  of  the  regular  army;  in  the  field,  served  in  the 
division  of  the  Mississippi;  dis.  U.S.  service,  Aug.  11,  '65; 
Captain  and  Aide  on  staff  of  Gov.  Brownlow  of  Tenn.; 


480  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

from  '68  to  '78  U.  S.  Claim  Agent,  Tazewell,  Term.;  was 
Postmaster,  Tazewell,  and,  '82  and  '83,  Deputy  Collector, 
Internal  Revenue  at  McMinnville,  Tenn.;  in  1884, 
removed  to  Chattanooga,  and  later  to  Lafayette,  Ga., 
in  1890,  buying  a  farm  and  there  residing  until  his  death, 
May  1,  1899;  accidentally  killed  at  Snow's  siding  on  his 
own  farm  by  a  locomotive;  he  was  also  Postmaster  of 
Lafayette. 

Spooner,  Herman  A.,  b.  Wendell;  21,  S.;  farmer,  Heath; 
June  21,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  one  of  the  first 
to  fall. 

Stempel,  Adolph,  b.  Prussia;  40,  S.;  mechanic,  Shelburne; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  July  18,  '62,  disa.;  after  the  war 
returned  to  Germany. 

Stevens,  Elliott  O.,  b.  Winsted,  Conn.;  33,  S.;  mason,  Shel 
burne;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Dec.  31,  '62,  disa.;  dead. 

Stone,  Charles  W.,  (R),  b.  N.  Y.  State;  18,  S.;  farmer,  Green 
field;  Sept.  12,  '61,  Co.  I;  in  '63,  May  12,  trans,  to  Co.  H; 
trans.  June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  dis.  Sept.  12,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 

Stratton,  George  F.,  b.  Berry,  Vt.;  19,  S.;  farmer,  Colrain; 
June  21,  '61;  wd.  shoulder,  Fair  Oaks;  carried  to  David's 
Island,  N.  Y.,  and  there  d.  of  wd.  June  12,  '62. 

Streeter,  William,  (Sergt.);  25,  S.;  machinist,  Shelburne; 
b.  Whitingham,  Vt.;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  head,  Fair  Oaks; 
he  and  one  other,  also  wd.,  were  the  only  Sergts.  of 
Co.  H,  who  did  not  receive  death  strokes  on  that  day; 
prom.  Second  Lieut.;  when  thus  promoted,  his  comrades 
gave  him  a  sword  belt  and  cap. 

Taylor,  Horace  V.,  (Corp.),  b.  Ashfield;  farmer,  Ashfield; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1873,  Chicago,  111.; 
d.  June  9,  1882. 

Tolman,  Albert,  (R),  b.  Troy,  N.  H.;  33,  M.;  laborer,  Shel 
burne;  Aug.  14,  '62;  never  sick,  was  in  every  fight,  and 
was  never  hit;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  machinist, 
Shelburne  Falls;  d.  Feb.  3,  1884. 

Upton,  George  E.,  b.  Charlemont;  24,  M.;  mechanic,  Charle- 
mont;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  28,  '61,  disa. 

Utley,  Henry  C.,  b.  England;  32,  M.;  mechanic,  Shelburne; 
June  21,  '61;  wd.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks,  shot  in  the 
head,  behind  the  ear,  he  came  off  the  field  alone;  the  next 
morning  he  was  seen  to  approach  the  hosp.,  take  hold  of 
a  comrade  and  try  to  speak;  taken  into  the  hosp.  his 


COMPANY  H 


481 


SERGT.  J.  F.  BARTLETT, 
A.  CHANDLER, 


A.  B.  CLARK, 


J.  A.  FRANKLIN, 
CORP.  H.  V.  TAYLOR. 


wd.  was  dressed  and  he  was  sent  to  Washington,  where 
he  was  unable  to  give  his  name  and  regiment,  dying 
delirious,  June  5,  '62 ;  an  envelope  established  his  identity. 

Veber,  Elias  E.,  (R),  b.  Charlemont;  20,  S.;  -  — ,  Charle- 
mont;  Sept.  12,  '61;  wd.  hand,  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  Sept.  17, 
'62,  disa;  re.  Co.  F,  34th  Mass.;  wd.  breast,  Piedmont 
and  captured,  a  prisoner  four  months;  trans.  June  24, 
'65,  24th  Mass.;  dis.  on  account  of  wds.,  July  24,  '65; 
in  1869,  farmer,  North  Brookfield;  in  1907,  N.  S.  H., 
Togus,  Me. 

Veber,  George  A.,  (Corp.),  b.  Charlemont;  28,  S.;  mason, 
Charlemont;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks. 


482  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Vincent,  David  M.;  21,  S.;  farmer,  Ashfield;  June  21,  '61; 
dis.  Nov.  22,  '61,  disa.;  d.  1901. 

Vincent,  Micajah  H.,  (R),  b.  Hawley;  32,  — ;  shoemaker, 
Hawley;  Sept.  12,  '61;  Corp.,  June  1,  '62;  wd.  Malvern 
Hill,  and  captured;  taken  to  Libby  Prison  and  kept 
twenty  days;  Sergt.,  Nov.  1,  '62;  First  Sergt.,  Mar.  1, 
'63;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Ashfield;  captured  at  Spottsyl- 
vania,  kept  four  months  in  Andersonville  and  three  in 
Florence,  S.  C.;  meantime  was  trans,  to  37th  Mass.; 
trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O'.  July  16,  '65;  in 
1869,  fruit  farming,  Hammonton,  N.  J.,  in  whose  town 
council  he  served  two  years;  in  1907,  Conway,  where  he 
has  held  all  the  offices  in  Post  164  G.  A.  R.,  including  the 
command  two  years. 

Vincent,  William  T.,  (R),  b.  Ashfield;  24,  — ;  farmer,  Ash 
field;  Sept.  12,  '61;  dis.  Dec.  23,  '62,  disa.;  d.  June  4, 

1882. 

Warner,  George  O.;    21,  — ;   ,  Medford;    July  24,  '61; 

dis.  Aug.  23,  '61,  disa. 

Warner,  James  M,,  (R),  b.  Savoy;  22,  M.;  farmer,  Savoy; 
Aug.  14,  '62;  dis.  Dec.  19,  '62,  disa. 

WTarren,  Alonzo  H.,  b.  Conway;  20,  S.;  farmer,  Conway; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  farmer,  South 
Ashfield;  d.  1906,  Holyoke. 

Williams,  James  M.,  b.  Charlemont;  20,  S.;  farmer,  Shel- 
burne;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  mouth,  Malvern  Hill,  and 
taken  to  Richmond  as  prisoner;  d.  there  of  wds.,  July 
17,  '62. 

Willis,  William  E.,  b.  Ashfield;  19,  S.;  farmer,  Buckland; 
June  21,  '61;  d.  June  23,  '62,  White  House,  Va. 

Wilson,  George  W.,  b.  Shelburne;  June  21,  '61;  mechanic, 
Shelburne;  wd.  forehead,  Malvern  Hill,  by  the  same  ball 
which  inflicted  fatal  wd.  upon  John  D.  Allis;  dis.  Oct. 
25,  '62,  disa.;  in  1873,  shipping  clerk,  Shelburne  Falls; 
dead. 

Wilson,  James  E.,  b.  Hebron,  N.  Y.;  21,  S.;  machinist, 
Shelburne;  June  21,  '61;  at  Spottsylvania  was  a  prisoner 
about  two  hours;  Corp.,  Nov.  16,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
in  1869,  machinist,  Indianapolis,  Ind. ;  in  1909,  Worcester. 

Wood,  Otis  B.,  b.  Canaan,  Conn.;  21,  S.;  farmer,  Hawley; 
June  21,  '61;  Corp.,  Nov.  13,  '62;  Sergt.,  May  1,  '63; 


COMPANY   H 


4  S3 


C.  W.   RUSSELL, 
L.   A.  SNOW, 


P.   H.  BR1GGS, 


G.  H.   HOWARD, 
WM.   E.  WILLIS. 


wd.  shoulder,  Salem  Heights;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans. 
June  19,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  First  Sergt.,  April  18,  '65; 
trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  prom.  First  Lieut,  to 
date  from  June  1,  '65;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in  1873, 
painter,  Turners  Falls;  d.  Dec.  3,  1903. 

Woodward,  Eliphaz,  (Corp.),  b.  Buckland;  40,  M.;  mason, 
Buckland;  June  21,  '61;  came  out  of  Fair  Oaks,  com 
manding  Co.  H,  though  wd.  in  knee;  wd.  Malvern  Hill, 
thigh;  trans.  Sept.  16,  '63,  V.  R.  C.,  serving  out  his  time 
as  Commissary  Sergt.;  dis.  June  20,  '64;  in  1869,  stone 
mason,  Shelburne  Falls;  d.  May  1,  1884. 

Woodward,  Marcus  M.,  b.  Buckland;  20,  S.;  farmer,  Buck- 
land;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  leg,  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  Mar.  10,  '63, 
disa.;  in  1907,  N.  S.  H.,  Togus,  Me. 


484  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

COMPANY  I 
WEST  SPRINGFIELD  AND  HOLYOKE 

A  union  Company,  resulting  from  the  efforts  of  the  two 
towns  to  each  raise  a  Company;  there  were  not  enough 
recruits  for  two  Companies,  but  the  merging  of  the  nearly 
fifty  men  secured  in  each  place  made  one  good  organization. 
As  in  the  other  towns,  there  were  public  meetings,  the  first 
one  in  West  Springfield,  coming  April  22nd,  in  the  town  hall, 
with  Col.  Edward  Parsons  presiding,  and  H.  Dickinson, 
Secretary.  The  calling  of  a  town  meeting  was  unanimously 
voted,  nearly  fifty  names  were  secured  and  drilling  began  at 
once  in  Suffield  hall.  The  specially  called  town  meeting  was 
held  on  the  30th  of  April  and  it  was  voted  to  present  every 
man  enlisting  from  the  town  with  a  revolver. 

In  Holyoke,  similar  action  in  the  way  of  meetings  was  had, 
and  on  May  6th,  the  West  Springfield  recruits  reported  in 
Holyoke  where  officers  for  the  composite  company  were 
elected,  resulting  in  the  elevation  to  the  captaincy  of  J.  H. 
Clifford,  Holyoke,  and  the  four  lieutenants  were  J.  K.  Newell, 
Springfield,  J.  P.  Brooks,  Holyoke;  J.  H.  Bennett,  West 
Springfield;  J.  H.  Halsted,  Holyoke,  in  order.  The  two 
towns  presented  their  respective  officers  with  swords  and 
complete  equipments  and  every  enlisted  man  with  a  service 
able  uniform  after  the  pattern  of  that  worn  by  the  City 
Guard,  while  the  ladies  busied  themselves  in  making  flannel 
shirts  and  drawers  for  the  men  in  camp.  To  Capt.  Clifford  was 
given  a  fine  watch  besides.  June  14th,  the  Company  joined 
the  other  organizations  already  gathered  on  Hampden  Park. 

June  23rd,  Sunday,  the  men  marched  from  their  quarters 
across  the  river  to  the  First  Congregational  church,  West 
Springfield,  where  the  Rev.  Mr.  Powers  preached  an  impressive 
discourse  for  the  especial  good  of  his  listeners,  in  conclusion 
wishing  them  a  hearty  God-speed  and  assuring  them  of  the 
aid  and  sympathy  of  all  good  citizens.  At  the  end  of  the  ser 
vices,  every  man  was  presented  with  a  Testament  and  a  utility 
bag,  such  as  soldiers  in  the  war  period  so  generally  carried. 

(For  full  explanation  of  abbreviations,  see  page  332.) 
COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

John  H.   Clifford,  b.   Pittsfield,   N.   H.;    39,   M.;    mechanic, 
Holyoke;   June  21,  '61;   res.  Nov.  5,  '61;   later,  Aug.  4, 


COMPANY  I  485 

'62,  en.  Co.  D,  34th  Mass.;  M.  O.  as  Sergt.,  June  16,  '65; 
in  1875,  Holyoke. 

Joseph  K.  Newell;  Nov.  6,  '61;  cashiered,  Nov.  25,  '62; 
(letter  A.  G.  O.,  Washington,  Dec.  10,  '62);  disa.,  result 
ing  from  dis.,  removed  by  the  President  and  the  Gov. 
of  Mass,  was  authorized  to  recommission  him,  (see  Letter 
War  Dep't.,  June  24,  '68,  on  file,  State  House,  Boston); 
in  1875,  in  mercantile  firm  of  T.  M.  Walker  &  Co.,  Spring 
field. 

Frederick  Barton,  from  Co.  E;  on  detached  service  till  M.  O., 
July  1,  '64;  in  1908,  Inspector,  Adams  Express  Co., 
Boston. 


FIRST  LIEUTENANTS 

Joseph  K.  Newell,  b.  Enfield;  23,  S.;  merchant,  Springfield; 
June  21,  '61;  after  arrival  in  Washington,  served  as 
regimental  Q.  M.  until  prom.  Captain. 

Joseph  H.  Bennett;  Nov.  6,  '61;  dismissed  Nov.  25,  '62;  in 
1875,  Chicopee  Falls. 

Wm.  Arthur  Ashley;  Nov.  3,  '62;  though  suffering  from  ill 
health,  he  insisted  on  retaining  his  position  and  fell  at 
the  head  of  his  Company,  May  5,  '64,  in  the  Wilderness. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS 

Joseph  H.  Bennett,  b.  Canada;  30,  S.;  manufacturer,  West 
Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  prom.  First  Lieut. 

Homer  G.  Gilmore,  from  1st  Serg't.  (F) ;  Nov.  6,  '61;  prom. 
1st.  Lieut.  (F). 

Wm.  Arthur  Ashley;  from  First  Sergt.;  Sept.  8,  '62;  prom. 
First  Lieut. 

William  F.  Darby;  from  Sergt.,  Co.  B;  Nov.  26,  '62;  for  some 
time  acted  as  Captain  of  the  Company;  wd.  arm,  May  3, 
'63,  Salem  Heights,  also,  hip,  Wilderness;  was  constantly 
with  the  Company  till  after  Cold  Harbor,  June,  '64, 
when  he  was  sent  to  the  hosp.  at  White  House  Landing 
and  later  to  General  Hosp.,  Washington,  whence  he  was 
dis.,  June  25,  '64,  reporting  in  Springfield  for  M.  O.  with 
Reg't.,  July  1,  '64;  since  the  war  has  been  a  member  of 
the  firm  of  Burlingame  and  Darbys,  North  Adams;  is  a 


486 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


CORP.  M.  V.  CARD,        LIEUT    C.   H.    KNAPP  (A),         J.   A.   DECKER. 

charter  member  of  Sanford  Post  No.  79,  G.  A.  R. ;  Rep 
resentative  in  Legislature,  1870,  '73  and  '79;  three  years 
on  Republican  State  Central  Committee ;  was  Postmaster 
under  President  Harrison,  was  reappointed  by  President 
McKinley,  and  is  now  P.  M.,  North  Adams;  is  Pres.  of 
the  Berkshire  Co.  Cooperative  Bank,  and  of  the  Burlin- 
game  and  Darbys  Co.,  incorporated. 


NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS  AND  PRIVATES 

Allen,  Charles  E.,  b.  West  Springfield;  19,  S.;  farmer,  West 
Springfield;  June  21,  '61,  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  Soldiers' 
Home,  1908. 

Ash,  Patrick,  (R),  b.  Ireland;  18,  S.  ;  laborer,  Springfield; 
Sept.  6,  '61;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  wd.  Aug. 
29,  '64,  Charlestown,  W.  Va. ;  dis.  Sept.  9,  '64,  ex.  of  s.; 
in  1875,  laborer,  Mittineague. 

Ashley,  Henry  B.,  (R),  b.  West  Springfield;  34,  — ;  machin 
ist,  Springfield;  Aug.  1,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Ashley,  Wm.  Arthur,  (Sergt.),  b.  West  Springfield;  butcher, 
West  Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  First  Sergt.,  Mar.  1.  '62; 
prom.  Second  Lieut. 

Atkins,  Wm.  H.,  (R),  b.  West  Granville;  21,  — ;  fanner, 
Washington,  D.  C.;  Dec.  10,  '61;  that  he  might  enlist 
with  old  friends,  he  walked  to  Springfield,  paid  his  own 
expenses  to  Washington,  and  was  there  enrolled  in  the 
Company;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  captured  and  taken  to  Rich 
mond;  thence  he  was  finally  sent  to  Philadelphia,  where 
he  d.  Aug.  12,  '62  from  a  second  amputation,  being  unable 


COMPANY  I  487 

to  rally  from  the  shock.     The  following  letter  is  an  inter 
esting  reminder  of  the  young  man  and  his  sufferings. 

SIXTH  AND  MASTER  STREETS,  U.  S.  GENERAL  HOSPITAL 

Philadelphia,  August  1,  1862. 

Dear  Captain: — I  have  finally  arrived  at  a  home  of  safety, 
after  a  long  imprisonment  in  Richmond.  Lieutenant  Gilmore 
was  at  my  side  when  I  was  shot,  and  I  told  him  that  I  thought 
I  could  get  to  the  rear  alone.  I  made  slow  progress,  as  my 
leg  was  broken.  After  a  while  I  was  helped  along,  and  was 
carried  and  left  by  the  side  of  the  road,  in  expectation  that  our 
ambulances  would  be  along  and  pick  me  up.  None  came,  and 
I  lay  on  the  bank  that  night ;  when  I  awoke  in  the  morning,  a 
man  had  died  in  reach  of  me,  his  eyes  unshut.  It  commenced 
to  rain,  quite  hard;  I  could  get  no  one  to  assist  me,  and  I 
could  not  stay  in  such  a  place,  where  the  dead  (there  were 
three  or  four  near  me)  made  such  an  impression  on  my  mind. 
I  hobbled  away,  on  my  hands  and  one  leg,  to  a  wheat  field, 
when  I  covered  myself  up  with  straw  and  cared  but  little  what 
became  of  me.  Secesh  came  along  pretty  soon,  and  said  I  would 
be  taken  in  after  a  while,  but  I  spent  another  night  out  of  doors, 
and  was  then  carried  in.  I  was  joyfully  surprised  to  see  Dr. 
Jewett,  of  the  Tenth.  He  assisted  a  rebel  surgeon  to  amputate 
my  leg.  The  next  day  after,  I  was  taken  to  Richmond,  in  one 
of  the  government  wagons,  and  soon  introduced  to  the  luxuries 
of  the  famous  Richmond  tobacco  warehouses.  We  had  plenty 
of  good  water  and  air,  but  little  medicine,  or  rags  to  dress  our 
wounds ;  I  cannot  describe  our  sufferings.  Half  rations  of  good 
bread  and  boiled  meat  were  given  us,  with  no  salt.  I  wish, 
Captain,  that  you  would  send  any  letters,  that  you  may  have 
for  me,  and  give  me  a  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded  in  the 
Regiment,  as  I  have  heard  only  partially.  I  suppose  Major 
Miller  was  wounded  severely.  If  you  think  best,  I  wish  you 
would  send  me  my  descriptive  list.  I  have  written  this  on  my 
back,  which  will  account  for  its  funny  appearance. 

Yours  truly,  WILLIAM  H.  ATKINS. 

Atkinson,  Wm.,  (R),  b.  England;  25,  — ;  mechanic,  Spring 
field;  Sept.  9,  '61;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  M.  O. 
June  20,  '64;  dis.  Sept.  10,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 

Bagg,  Charles  H.,  b.  West  Springfield;  19,  S.;  farmer,  West 
Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  on  reaching  Brightwood,  he 
became  speechless,  called  by  the  doctors  aphonia;  no 
effort  or  ruse  could  detect  any  simulation,  hence  his  dis. 


488  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Dec.  4,  '61,  disa.;  on  reaching  home,  however,  his  voice 
came  back  to  him ;  in  1875,  employ  of  B.  &  A.  R.  R.,  West 
Springfield. 

Baldwin,  James,  b.  Scotland;  20,  S.;  paper  maker,  Holyoke ; 
June  14,  '61;  wd.  as  Corp.,  Wilderness,  and  d.  of  same, 
June  13,  '64. 

Barnes,  Albert,  b.  Palmer;  24,  M.;  machinist,  West  Spring 
field;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  Sept.  11,  '61,  disa.;  in  1872, 
painter,  Springfield;  d.  May  20,  1900,  N.  S.  H.,  Togus,  Me. 

Barry,  John,  b.  Greenbush,  N.  Y.;  19,  S.;  manufacturer, 
Holyoke;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  leg,  Fair  Oaks;  k.  May  3, 
'63,  Salem  Heights. 

Bean,  Hibbard  K.,  b.  Lisbon,  N.  H.;  26,  M.;  machinist, 
Holyoke;  June  14,  '61;  Corp.,  Dec.  14,  '61;  k.  May  31, 
'62,  Fair  Oaks. 

Best,  Robert,  Jr.,  b.  England;  20,  S.;  mechanic,  West  Spring 
field;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  hand,  Fair  Oaks;  wd.  and  cap 
tured,  May  18,  '64,  Spottsylvania ;  d.  Florence,  S.  C., 
Sept.,  '64,  in  the  enemy's  hands. 

Boyington,  Hubert  J.,  b.  Southwick;  27,  S.;  wire  drawer, 
Holyoke;  June  14,  '61;  k.  May  3,  '63,  Salem  Heights; 
State  rolls  give  name  "Herbert  J.  Boynton." 

Bradford,  Alvin  F.,  b.  Florida;  34,  — ;  mechanic,  Holyoke; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  30,  '62,  also  found  "Mar.  30," 
disa.;  later  in  Co.  D.  27th  Mass. 

Bradley,  Wm.  H.,  (R),  b.  Kingston,  N.  Y.;  18,  S.;  farmer, 
Great  Barrington;  Feb.  12,  '62;  dis.  Jan.  3,  '63,  disa. 

Brady,  Sylvanus  H.,  (Wagoner),  b.  Oswego,  N.  Y. ;  35,  M.; 
printer,  Holyoke;  June  14,  '61;  had  served  in  U.  S. 
Gov't.  employ,  before  the  war  as  wagon  master  on  the 
plains,  serving  in  same  capacity  during  his  brief  stay 
in  the  Tenth;  dis.  Oct.  4,  '61,  disa.;  in  1875,  Holyoke. 

Brick,  Edward,  b.  Ireland;    18,  S.;    laborer,  South  Hadley; 

June  14,  '61;  wd.  chance  shot,  night  before  Malvern  Hill; 

dis.  Dec.  3,  '62,  disa.;   State  rolls  carry  name  as  "Buck." 
Brick,  Maurice,  b.  Ireland;    20,  M.;    laborer,  South  Hadley; 

June  21,  '61;   desert.  Dec.  9,  '62;   captured  at  his  Mass. 

home  and  taken  to  Boston  for  trial,  to  escape  which,  en. 

llth    Regulars,  became  Corp.  and  again    desert.     State 

rolls  carry  name  as  "Buck." 

Brooks,  James  P.,   (Sergt.),  b.  Newmarket,  N.  H.;    23,  S.; 


COMPANY  I  489 

molder,  Holyoke;  June  14,  '61;  in  the  militia  formation 
he  was  Second  Lieut.,  but  in  the  muster-in,  he  was  sup 
planted  by  the  Third  Lieut.,  whereupon  he  immediately 
took  off  his  sash  and  sword,  shouldered  a  musket,  saying, 
"I  enlisted  to  fight  not  for  office."  His  Holyoke  friends 
in  token  of  their  admiration  for  his  grit  and  determina 
tion,  presented  him  with  a  very  fine  gold  watch  engraved 
with  the  foregoing  words.  When  Colonel  Briggs  heard  of 
the  action  of  the  soldier  he  appointed  him  as  Color-Sergt., 
a  post  of  honor;  soon  after  Gov.  Andrew  trans,  him  to 
recruiting  service  in  Mass. ;  Nov.  30,  '61,  he  was  appointed 
Second  Lieut.,  Co.  C,  6th  N.  H.;  First  Lieut.,  April  29,  '62; 
dis.  on  account  of  wds.  Oct.  31,  '62;  April  6,  '64,  en.  Co.  K, 
57th  Mass. ;  d.  from  wds.  July  14,  '64,  Alexandria,  Va. 

Brown,  Thomas,  b.  Scotland;  27,  M.;  manufacturer,  Pitts- 
field;  Feb.  27,  '62;  after  Antietam,  on  the  march  to 
Williamsport,  Md.,  while  the  men  were  lying  along  the 
road,  awaiting  orders,  some  frightened  horses  came 
running  down  the  road  and  one  of  them  drove  the  calk 
of  his  shoe  into  the  skull  of  Brown,  the  doctors  pronounc 
ing  the  injury  fatal;  a  piece  of  his  skull  was  removed  and 
he  was  sent  to  the  hosp.,  where  he  recovered  enough  to- 
do  light  work;  dis.  Mar.  13,  '63;  the  date  is  also  given 
"Sept.  12,  '62,"  manifestly  an  absurdity  since  that  was 
before  he  was  hurt;  in  1864,  Pittsfield. 

Bugbee,  Smith  A.,  b.  West  Suffield,  Conn.;  22,  S.;  car  man, 
West  Springfield;  May  — ,  '61;  wd.  Fair  Oaks,  left  lung; 
dis.  Sept.  30,  '62,  disa.;  in  1875,  Holyoke;  rep.  dead,  1905. 

Burnham,  George,  (Mus.) ;  28,  S.;  drummer,  Holyoke;  June 
21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  1908,  Holyoke. 

Burr,  James  W.,  b.  Wilbraham;  23,  M.;  paper  maker,  Hol 
yoke;  June  14,  '61;  d.  Sept.  10,  '61,  Brightwood,  D.  C.; 
the  whole  Reg't.  participated  in  funeral,  next  day,  after 
which  the  body,  embalmed,  was  sent  home  to  Holyoke. 

Cahill,  Francis  H.,  b.  New  York  City;  21,  S.;  weaver,  West 
Springfield;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  both  legs,  Wilderness; 
M.  O.  as  Corp.,  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  Springfield;  rep. 
dead,  Nov.  1903. 

Caine,  Anthony,  b.  Ireland;  18,  S.;  paper  maker,  Holyoke; 
June  14,  '61;  d.  May  15,  '63,  Washington,  from  wds. 
received  at  Salem  Heights,  May  3,  '64.  State  rolls  give 
"Cane." 


490 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANT HY 


C.  W.  COCHRANE,          SERGT.  J.   R.   WALKER,          GEO.   CONNER. 

Card,   Martin  V.,   b.   New  Ashford;    21,   S.;    manufacturer, 
Williamstown ;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness, 
ankle;    M.   O.  as  Corp.,  July   1,   '64;    overseer,  Phoenix 
cotton  mill,  North  Adams  from   1866  to  '72;    on  farm 
Morrison,  111.,  until  1892;    in  1909,  Morrison. 

Casey,  John  E.,  b.  Boston;  18,  S.;  plumber,  Springfield 
June  14,  '61;  wd.  Salem  Heights;  k.  May  5,  '64,  Wilder 
ness.  State  House  rolls  say  "May  15." 

Casey,  Maurice,  (R) ;  25,  S.;  manufacturer,  Dalton;  Feb. 
25,  '62;  dis.  May  2,  '62,  disa. 

Clark,  Enoch,  b.  Pittsfield;  39,  M.;  machinist,  West  Spring 
field;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  head,  May  4,  '64,  Wilderness; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1873,  machinist,  Hinsdale. 

Cochrane,  Charles  W.,  b.  Scotland;  34,  M.;  machinist,  Hoi- 
yoke;  June  14,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  20,  '64, 
37th  Mass.;  dis.  June  17,  '65,  O.  W.  D.;  d.  1875,  Holyoke. 

Conner,  George,  b.  Charlton;    28,  M.;    driver,  Holyoke;   June 


COMPANY  I  491 

14,  '61;  wd.  Fair  Oaks,  a  bullet,  entering  his  abdomen, 
passed  out  at  his  back;  the  surgeon  said  he  must  die,  but 
Conner  declared  he  couldn't  and  he  didn't;  after  several 
months  of  hosp.,  he  came  back  to  the  Reg't. ;  but  did  not 
wear  his  belt;  his  labor  thereafter  was  very  light,  princi 
pally  about  the  culinary  dep't.;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in 
1870,  oil  regions  of  Pa. 

Converse,  Henry  M.,  b.  Chester;  28,  M.;  printer,  Holyoke; 
June  21,  '61;  Corp.,  Mar.  8,  '62;  Sergt.,  Aug.  15,  '62; 
detailed  for  recruiting  service,  Aug.  13,  '62;  stationed  in 
Springfield,  West  Cambridge  and  Fort  Independence, 
Boston  Harbor;  returned  to  Reg't.,  Feb.  14,  '63;  First 
Sergt.,  April  6,  '64;  wd.  side,  Spottsylvania ;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64;  since  muster-out,  newspaper  editor  in 
Northampton,  Easthampton  and  Warren;  in  1908, 
Warren. 

Cook,  Austin  S.,  b.  Amherst;  20,  S.;  farmer,  Amherst;  April 
22,  '61,  the  eighth  Springfield  man  to  be  enrolled;  trans. 
Nov.  11,  '62,  Battery  G,  2nd  U.  S.  Artillery;  in  1869, 
employ  of  N.  H.  &  N.  R.  R. 

Corkery,  Michael  B.,  b.  Ireland;  22,  S.;  manufacturer,  West 
Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness; 
dis.  July  29,  '64,  being  absent  at  regimental  muster- 
out;  in  1869,  cotton  spinner,  West  Springfield. 

Crockett,  Frederick  H.,  (R),  b.  Middletown,  Conn.;  27,  S.; 
merchant,  Northampton;  Oct.  14,  '62;  wd.  hand,  May 
3,  '63,  Salem  Heights;  dis.  Aug.  14,  '63,  disa. 

Cromwell,  Luther  F.,  b.  Preston,  Conn. ;  30,  M. ;  manufacturer, 
West  Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Jan.  1,  '63,  disa.; 
in  1875,  Fall  River. 

Cronin,  Daniel,  (R),  b.  Ireland;  20,  S.;  mechanic,  Holyoke. 
Jan.  11,  '64;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  k.  Sept; 
19,  '64,  Winchester. 

Dailey,  James  N.,  b.  Boston;  37,  S.;  carpenter,  Holyoke; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Mar.  1,  '62,  disa. 

Deady,  Edward,  (R),  b.  Ireland;  35,  M.;  laborer,  Belcher- 
town;  cr.  Worcester;  Dec.  10,  '63;  trans.  June  20,  '64, 
37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July 
16,  '65. 

Decie,  Charles  H.,  b.  Ireland;  IS,  S.;  weaver,  Holyoke; 
June  21,  '61 ;  wd.  head,  Malvern  Hill;  leg,  Salem  Heights; 
hand,  Wilderness;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  1909,  Newburyport. 


492  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Decker,  John  A.,  b.  Ancram,  N.  Y. ;  24,  S.;  paper  maker, 
West  Springfield;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  Jan.  14,  '62,  disa.; 
for  last  fifteen  years  in  Maine;  in  paper  business,  banking 
and  real  estate ;  Pres.  Rumford  Falls  National  Bank  and 
Pres.  Dixfield  Light  and  Water  Co.;  Representative, 
State  Legislature,  1907;  residence,  Dixfield. 

"Desmond,  Richard,  b.  Ireland;  22,  S.;  shoemaker,  West 
Springfield;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

Dory,  George  W.,  b.  West  Haven,  Conn.;  18,  S.;  weaver, 
West  Springfield;  June  14,  '61;  trans.  Nov.  8,  '63,  Bat 
tery  G,  2nd  U.  S.  Artillery;  served  through  the  war;  in 
1872,  oyster  trade,  Fair  Haven,  Conn. ;  claims  to  have 
captured  at  Malvern  Hill  a  N.  C.  flag,  for  which  no  credit 
has  been  given;  in  1907,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

Eaton,  Wm.  H.,  b.  Springfield;  24,  S.;  mechanic,  Holyoke; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  8,  '61,  disa.;  in  1872,  Holyoke. 

Edwards,  Wm.  B.,  b.  North  Stonington,  Conn.;  26,  — ; 
— ,  Springfield;  Sept.  6,  '61;  wd.  ankle,  Fair  Oaks; 
dis.  Aug.  6,  '62.  disa. ;  in  1872,  cotton  spinner,  Deep 
River,  Conn.;  in  1908,  Chicopee. 

Estes,  Wm.  H.,  b.  Chicopee;  20,  S.;  painter,  Holyoke;  June 
14,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks. 

Falvey,  John,  b.  Ireland;  18,  S.;  laborer,  Holyoke;  June  14, 
'61;  on  the  visit  of  the  allotment  commission,  he  made 
over  to  the  State  Treasury  in  Boston,  all  of  his  wages, 
except  one  dollar  per  month,  the  remainder  to  remain  on 
interest  until  his  discharge;  upon  the  arrival  of  the  Reg't. 
at  Warwick  Court  House,  he  fell  ill  of  fever,  d.  May  1,  '62, 
and  was  bur.  near  the  center  of  the  village;  he  left  no 
relatives  in  this  country. 

Ferry,  Henry  L.,  b.  Easthampton;  18,  S.;  broom  maker, 
Easthampton;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  14,  '62,  disa.; 
Jan.  13,  '65,  en.  Co.  C,  31st  Mass.;  M.  O.  Sept.  9,  '65;  in 
1907,  N.  S.  H.,  Togus,  Me. 

Flanagan,  Patrick,  b.  Ireland;  25,  S.;  laborer,  Springfield; 
•  June  21,  '61;  desert.  July  17,  '61;  Dec.  14,  '61,  en.  Co.  F, 
16th  Mass.;  dis.  from  the  16th  for  disa.,  Aug.  12,  '63. 

Frisbie,  Cassander,  b.  New  York  City;  22,  S.;  mechanic, 
West  Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  d.  July  12,  '62,  McKim's 
Hosp.,  Baltimore,  Md.  State  rolls  say  "Annapolis." 

'Geary,  H.  L.,  (R),  N.  F.  R.,  save,  "dis.  Dec.  6,  '62,  disa., 
Alexandria,  Va." 


COMPANY  I  493 

Halsted,  John  H.,  (Sergt.),  b.  Ramapo,  N.  Y.;  26,  M.;  manu 
facturer,  South  Hadley;  June  21,  '61;  in  the  militia 
organization  was  Fourth  Lieut.;  dis.  Aug.  19,  '62,  disa.; 
d.  May  31,  1903,  Togus,  Me. 

Harger,  George  S.,  b.  West  Granville;  20,  S.;  farmer,  Gran- 
ville;  April  26,  '61;  wd.  right  shoulder,  Fair  Oaks; 
wd.  thigh,  Spottsylvania,  and  captured,  lying  two  days 
and  nights  upon  the  field;  a  prisoner  in  Orange  Court 
House,  Gordonsville,  Trevellion  Station,  and  Richmond, 
being  in  six  different  prisons  before  his  trip  down  the 
James,  Feb.  18,  '65,  to  freedom;  June  24,  '65,  was  re 
captured  by  Sheridan  but,  owing  to  wds.,  could  not  be 
removed;  when  he  did  start  for  liberty,  it  was  in  the 
arms  of  a  stalwart  comrade  who  carried  him  out  bodily, 
clothed  in  rags  indescribable;  M.  O.  April  14,  '65;  in 
1875,  dealer  in  hay  and  straw,  East  Chatham,  N.  Y., 
apparently  in  excellent  health;  said  to  have  been  killed 
at  Ayer  by  R.  R.  train. 

Harris,  Charles  F.,  Jr.,  (R),  b.  Vernon,  Vt.;  18,  S.;  farmer, 
Pittsfield;  Mar.  7,  '62;  d.  Sept.  17,  '62,  Newport  News. 
Newell  says  "Chas.  S." 

Hartwell,  Charles  L.,  (R),  b.  Conway;  18,  S.;  farmer,  Spring 
field;  Sept.  12,  '61;  wd.  arm,  Fair  Oaks  and  breast, 
Salem  Heights;  wd.  head  and  shoulder,  May  7,  '64,  Wil 
derness;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  dis.  Sept.  11,  '64, 
ex.  of  s.;  in  1871,  Springfield;  d.  Oct.  7,  1908,  Amherst. 

Hayes,  James,  b.  England;  19,  S.;  manufacturer,  South 
Hadley;  June  14,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Agawam; 
trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th 
Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in  1907,  N.  S.  H.,  Togus,  Me. 

Healy,  Michael  F.,  b.  Ireland;  19,  S.;  carder,  West  Spring 
field;  April,  '61;  Corp.,  June  19,  '62;  wd.  Malvern  Hill; 
dis.  Mar.  4,  '64,  disa.; -re.  Dec.  14,  '64,  Co.  K,  37th  Mass.; 
trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in 
1875,  carriage  painter,  North  Adams. 

Henry,  Albert  F.,  b.  Troy,  N.  Y.;  20,  S.;  clerk,  Holyoke; 
May  31,  '61;  dis.  Dec.  14,  '61,  disa. 

Hey  ward,  Jerome,  (Corp.),  b.  Washington;  42,  M.;  gas 
maker,  West  Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
d.  Jan.  27,  '69,  Holyoke;  bur.  West  Springfield.  Newell 
spells  the  name  " 


494 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


Hovey,  Charles  E.,  b.  North  Oxford;   18,  S.;  envelope  maker, 

Holyoke;    May  31,  '61;   wd.  neck,  Fair  Oaks;    k.  May  3, 

'.63,  Salem  Heights. 
Huot,  Peter,  (R),  b.  Canada;   34,  M.;  laborer,  Holyoke;   Dec. 

10,  '63;   trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;   trans.  June  21, 

'65,  20th  Mass.;   dis.  July  16,  '65. 
Hyde,  James  H.,  b.  South  Lee;    22,  M.;    paper  maker,  West 

Springfield;    June  21,  '61;    M.  O.  July  1,  '64;    in  1869, 

paper  maker,  West  Springfield;  rep.  dead,  1905. 
Hyde,    Philip,   b.    South   Lee;     18,   S.;    paper  maker,   West 

Springfield;    June  21,  '61;    Corp.,  Mar.   1,  '62;    wd.  and 

lost  sight  of  left  eye,   Fair  Oaks;    Sergt.,  Sept.   8,   '62; 

wd.  left  knee,  Salem  Heights;    wd.  in  groin  and  head, 

Spottsylvania,;  M.   O.  July   1,   '64;    Jan.   21,   '65,  com. 

Captain  of  militia  company,  219th  Dist.;   in  1907,  South 

Hadley  Falls. 
Jones,  Wm.  S.,  b.  South  Trenton,  N.  Y.;   29,  M.;   carpenter, 

West  Springfield;  June  21,  '61;   wd.  foot,  Spottsylvania; 

M.  O.  July  1,  '64;   in  1875,  editor  of  paper,  Scranton,  Pa. 

Judd,  Dwight  O.,  b.  Huntsburg,  Ohio; 
18,  S.;  farmer,  Holyoke;  May, 
'61;  wd.  left  breast,  Fair  Oaks; 
wrd.  right  groin,  thigh  bone  brok 
en,  Salem  Heights;  detailed^ 
Sept.  4,  '63,  Div.  provost  guard, 
and  sent  on  guard  duty  to  San- 
dusky,  Ohio,  Sept.  25,  remaining 
with  guard  till  Jan.  3,  '64;  wd. 
left  hand,  losing  little  finger, 
Wilderness,  May  5,  '64;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64;  in  '67,  he  organized 
Co.  G,  2nd  Reg't.  M.  V.  M. 
being  connected  with  that  and 
with  Co.  D  of  Holyoke  till  1881, 
when  he  resigned  the  captaincy 

of  the  latter;  was  an  Odd  Fellow  and  32nd  degree 
Mason;  had  been  a  member  of  Post  16,  G.  A.  R.,  Spring 
field,  and  had  commanded  Kilpatrick  Post,  Holyoke; 
had  served  on  the  staff  of  the  Commander  in  Chief  and, 
in  1903,  commanded  the  Dep't.  of  Mass.;  in  1881,  was  a 
member  of  Common  Council,  Holyoke,  had  served  on 
Board  of  Assessors  and,  in  1887,  represented  his  district 
in  lower  branch  of  the  Legislature;  was  many  years  in 


DWIGHT  O.  JUDD. 


COMPANY  I  495 

the  insurance  and  real  estate  business,  also  Secretary 
and  Treasurer  of  the  Holyoke  Cooperative  Bank;  d. 
Nov.  25,  1906,  Holyoke. 

Justin,  James  M.,  b.  West  Granville;  20,  S.;  farmer,  West 
Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  wd.  right  hip,  Fair  Oaks; 
Com.  as  Capt.,  46th  Mass.,  Oct.  15,  '62;  M.  O.  July  29, 
'63;  in  1873,  car  repairer,  B.  &  A.  R.  R.,  Hinsdale. 

Justin,  Jas.  or  Jos.;  N.  F.  R.  save  "d.  Dec.  9,  '62,  Belle 
Plain;"  possibly  the  same  as  preceding. 

Kelly,  John  H.,  b.  Ramapo,  N.  Y.;  21,  S.;  plater,  Holyoke; 
May  31,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  28,  '62,  disa.;  served  in  Q.  M. 
Dep't.,  three  months  from  Sept.  1,  '64;  in  1872,  fruit 
and  produce  dealer,  Newark,  N.  J. 

Kelly,  Joseph,  b.  Ireland;  19,  S.;  machinist,  Holyoke; 
May  31,  '61;  foot  badly  jammed  in  McClellan's  change 
of  base  on  the  James;  wd.  arm,  Wilderness;  M.  O.  July 
1,  '64;  in  1872,  said  to  be  in  Holyoke;  d.  May  20,  1890, 
N.  S.  H.,  Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Kilroy,  James,  (R),  b.  Boston;  IS,  S.;  farmer,  Leverett; 
Sept.  7,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21, 
'65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  afterwards  in  regular 
army. 

Knapp,  Charles  H.,  (Corp.),  b.  Northampton;  24,  S.;  machin 
ist,  Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  Sergt.,  '61;  wd.  wrist, 
July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill;  First  Sergt.,  Sept.,  '62;  prom. 
Second  Lieut.,  Co.  A. 

Kneeland,  Edward  S.,  (Wagoner),  b.  Northampton;  25,  S.; 
teamster,  Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  when  the  wagon 
train  was  turned  over  to  Q.  M.  Dep't.,  he  went  with  his 
wagon,  and  did  not  return  to  the  Reg't.;  being  an  en 
listed  man,  he  was  entered  as  a  deserter,  Jan.  16,  '62; 
on  Aug.  20,  '62,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F.,  1st  Mass.  Cav. ; 
re.  Dec.  20,  '63;  dis.  June  26,  '65. 

Knights,  Henry,  b.  England;  28,  M.;  manufacturer,  West 
Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  wd.  hand,  Gettysburg;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64;  re.  Sept.  3,  '64,  2nd  Mass.  Heavy  Artillery; 
M.  O.  June  26,  '65. 

Knox,  James,  (Corp.),  b.  Scotland;  24,  S.;  machinist,  Spring 
field;  May  6,  '61;  Sergt.,  Mar.  5,  '62;  Color-Sergt., 
Fair  Oaks  and  Malvern  Hill;  prom.  Second  Lieut,  to 
date  from  June  1,  '62,  Co.  A.  on  account  of  bravery  on 
the  field. 


496  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Lamb,  Wilbur  F.,  b.  Newburyport;  19,  S.;  manufacturer, 
Holyoke;  May  31,  '61;  after  Fredericksburg,  was  sent 
to  the  Convalescent  Camp  and  Oct.  22,  '63,  was  trans. 
10th  Co.,  1st  Battalion,  V.  R.  C.;  dis.  June  21,  '64,  ex. 
of  s.;  in  1908,  No.  625  Winter  st.,  Woonsocket,  R.  I. 

Lauder,  John,  (R),  b.  Scotland;  25,  — ;  -  — ,  Washington, 
D.  C.;  Aug.  14,  '61;  desert.  Jan.  2,  '62;  State  rolls  give 
"Lander." 

Littlejohn,  Otis  H.,  (R) ;  19,  S.;  farmer,  Montague;  Aug.  9, 
'62;  d.  Feb.  3,  '63,  Falmouth,  Va. 

Livingston,  James,  b.  England;  27,  M.;  weaver,  Springfield; 
May  31,  '61;  wd.  ankle,  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64. 

Loomis,  George,  b.  West  Springfield;  19,  S.;  farmer,  West 
Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  dis.  Dec.  8,  '62,  disa.;  d.  Nov. 
18,  1882,  West  Springfield. 

Maguire,  Joseph;  29,  — ;  — ,  Holyoke;  June  21,  '61; 

d.  Nov.  7,  '63,  Rappahannock  Station,  Va.;  eivdently 
an  error  for  Ungerer,  which  see. 

Newson,  Wm.  M.,  b.  Geneva,  N.  Y.;  28,  S.;  carriage  maker, 
Boston;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  knee,  in  front  of  Petersburg, 
just  before  discharge  of  Reg't.;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in 
1872,  carriage  business,  Tiffin,  Ohio. 

Newton,  Frank  O.,  (R),  b.  Bernardston;  21,  — ;  farmer,  Gill; 
Aug.  29,  '62;  dis.  Jan.  1,  '63,  disa. 

Nye,  David  B.,  b.  Boscawen,  N.  H.;  18,  S.;  machinist,  Hol 
yoke;  May  31,  '61;  Corp.,  April  17,  '63;  wd.  left  thigh, 
Salem  Heights;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  farmer, 
Northboro;  1909,  Cambridgeport. 

Otis,  Abner  D.,  b.  Franklin,  Conn.;  18,  S.;  machinist,  Hol 
yoke;  May  31,  '61;  d.  Armory  Square  Hosp.,  Washing 
ton,  Sept.  17,  '63. 

Page,  Henry  A.,  b.  Boxboro;  20,  S.;  merchant,  Holyoke; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Mar.  1,  '62,  disa.;  d.  Dec.,  1898. 

Paull,  Osmyn  B.,  b.  Shutesbury;  19,  S.;  carpenter,  Holyoke; 
May  31,  '61;  Corp.,  Mar.  1,  '62;  Sergt.,  June  1,  '62;  wd. 
left  leg,  Malvern  Hill;  carried  to  hosp.,  was  capt.  next 
day  and  taken  to  Richmond,  on  the  6th  of  July;  ex 
changed  on  the  22nd,  was  sent  to  Mill  Creek  Hosp.,  near 
Ft.  Monroe,  thence  returned  to  Reg't.;  after  a  furlough 
home,  he  came  back  to  the  10th,  May  17,  '64,  only  to  be 
killed  the  next  day  at  Spottsylvania. 


COMPANY  I 


41)7 


WM.  H.   ESTES,  SERG'T.    A.   N.  TRUDEAU, 

G.   W.   PEABODY, 
SERG'T.  PHIL  HYDE,  1ST.  SERG'T.  H.  M.  CONVERSE. 

Peabody,  Gustavus  W.,  b.  West  Springfield;  20,  S.;  machin 
ist,  Holyoke;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  right  arm,  Salem  Heights, 
May  3,  "'63;  trans.  Mar.  15,  '64,  114th  Co.,  2nd  Battalion, 
V.  R.  C.;  dis.  June  21,  '64,  ex.  of  s. ;  in  1873,  merchant, 
New  Haven,  Conn.;  has  been  Selectman  and  J.  P.  for  a 
number  of  years,  Windham,  Conn. ;  1909,  Willimantic. 

Pettis,  Amos,  Jr.,  (Sergt.),  b.  Eaton,  N.  Y.;  30,  M.;  manu 
facturer,  Holyoke;  May  31,  '61;  detailed  Jan.  17,  '62,  on 
recruiting  service  in  Mass.,  and  was  absent  several  months ; 
k.  as  First  Sergt.,  May  3,  '63,  Salem  Heights. 

Powers,  Richard  M.,  Jr.,  (R) ;  20,  — ;  farmer,  Greenfield; 
Sept.  12,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  7,  '62,  disa.;  in  1909,  farmer, 
North  Brookfield. 

Read,  Stephen  W.,  b.   Buffalo,   N.  Y. ;    18,  S.;    blacksmith, 


498  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Holyoke;  May  31,  '61;  wd.  leg,  Salem  Heights;  re.  Dec. 
21,  '63;  trans,  as  Corp.,  June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans. 
June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65. 

Riley,  David,  b.  Ireland;  21,  S.;  manufacturer,  West  Spring 
field;  May  31,  '61;  wd.  hand,  Wilderness;  M.  O.  July  1, 
'64;  in  1875,  Mittineague;  d.  West  Springfield. 

Russell,  Patrick,  b.  Ireland;  19,  S.;  glass  blower,  Holyoke; 
May  31,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  State  rolls  say  "Safeguard, 
never  heard  of  since ;"  Newell  records  that  he  was  captured 
by  the  enemy  while  doing  safeguard  duty  in  Va.,  and 
for  a  long  time  was  in  Anderson ville.  After  reaching 
home,  his  friends  were  surprised  at  his  healthy  appear 
ance,  so  different  from  that  of  other  prisoners.  Confi 
dentially,  he  informed  them  that  he  had  found  a  cousin 
in  the  rebel  guard  who  took  good  care  of  him.  He  was 
last  seen  going  aboard  a  transport  with  a  detachment 
of  regular  troops  on  their  way  to  California. 

Scott,  George  M.,  b.  Ludlow;  31,  M.;  blacksmith,  Agawam; 
June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th 
Mass.;  dis.  May  26,  '65,  disa.;  d.  Dec.  10,  1889,  Feeding 
Hills. 

Seifert,  Augustus,  b.  Germany;  19,  S.;  weaver,  Holyoke; 
May  31,  '61;  sunstruck  on  march  from  Kalorama  to 
Brightwood  and  was  unfit  for  regular  duty  thereafter; 
dis.  Dec.  27,  '62,  disa. 

Shay,  Daniel  D.,  b.  Chicopee;  19,  S.;  stabler,  Holyoke; 
May  31,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks.  Newell  spells 
the  name  "Shea." 

Shea,  Peter,  b.  Maine;  19,  S.;  farmer,  West  Springfield; 
May  12,  '61;  trans.  1st  Reg't.  V.  R.  C.,  Mar.  15,  '64; 
Sergt.,  Aug.  14,  '64;  in  1869,  gas  fitter,  Chicopee.  State 
rolls  say  "Shay;"  1909,  Chicopee  Falls. 

Smith,  Alexander  C.,  (Corp.),  b.  Catskill,  N.  Y.;  23,  S.; 
clerk,  West  Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  leg,  broken 
below  knee,  Fair  Oaks;  dis.  Nov.  30,  '62,  disa.;  in  1875, 
Springfield. 

Smith,  Algernon  S.,  b.  West  Springfield;  27,  S.;  farmer, 
West  Springfield;  May  31,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in 
1875,  farmer,  West  Springfield;  d.  S.  H.,  April  12,  1903. 

Smith,  Edward  P.,  b.  South  Hadley  Falls;  23,  S.;  farmer, 
Agawam;  May  31,  '61;  wd.  arm,  Spottsylvania;  M.  O. 


COMPANY  I  499 

July  1,  '64;   later  in  61st  Mass.,  serving  at  City  Point  in 
the  engineer  corps;  in  1869,  cigar  business,  Feeding  Hills. 

Smith,  Hanniel  P.,  (Corp.);  21,  S.;  mechanic,  Holyoke; 
June  14,  '61 ;  wd.  shoulder,  Fair  Oaks,  and  hand,  Spottsyl- 
vania;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  dentist,  Meredith,  N.  H. 
State  rolls  give  "Hammel." 

Smith,  Luther,  (R),  b.  Shelburne;  19,  S.;  mechanic,  Spring 
field;  Sept.  6,  '61;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  dis. 
Sept.  7,  '64,  ex.  of  s. 

Smith,  Simeon  P.,  b.  Meredith,  N.  H.;  20,  S.;  mechanic, 
Holyoke;  June  21,  '61;  though  deafness  would  have 
shielded  him  from  compulsory  service,  he  was  bound  to 
enlist  and  proved  a  good  soldier;  k.  Nov.  7,  '63,  Rappa- 
hannock  Station. 

Smith,  Wm.  E.,  b.  Pittsfield;  41,  M.;  cook,  West  Springfield; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  19,  '61,  disa.;  in  1875,  Springfield. 

Smith,  Wm.  H.,  b.  West  Springfield;  19,  S.;  farmer,  West 
Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks; 
trans.  Battery  G,  2nd  U.  S.  Artillery,  Nov.  8,  '62;  went 
to  California  with  his  battery  after  the  war. 

Smith,  Wm.  S.,  b.  Fit chburg;  18,  S.;  fisherman,  West  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  desert.  Nov.  24,  '61. 

Snow,  John  E.,  b.  South  Hadley;  18,  S.;  mechanic,  South 
Hadley;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Feb.  6,  '63,  disa. 

Squires,  John  C.,  b.  Bloomfield,  Pa.;  19,  S.;  molder,  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  d.  Sept.  13,  '61,  Washington;  bur. 
west  end  of  camp  ground,  Brightwood. 

Stewart,  Robert  J.,  b.  Ireland;  21,  S.;  mechanic,  Holyoke; 
June  21,  '61;  k.  May  31,  '62,  Fair  Oaks. 

Sullivan,  Jeremiah,  b.  Roxbury;  19,  S.;  farmer,  West  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  d.  Sept.  24,  '61,  Washington. 

Sullivan,  John,  b.  Ireland;  18,  S.;  operative,  Holyoke; 
June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  N.  S.  H.,  Dayton, 
Ohio,  April  24,  1898. 

Sullivan,  Michael,  b.  Ireland;  18,  S.;  operative,  West  Spring 
field;  June  21,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  19,  '61,  disa. 

Tanner,  Wm.  N.,  (R),  b.  Greenfield;  33,  — ;  teamster,  Med- 
ford;  July  23,  '61;  detailed  as  teamster,  when  his  wagon 
was  turned  over  to  the  Q.  M.  Dep't.,  he  went  with  it  and 
did  not  return;  desert.  Jan.  16,  '62. 


500  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Tobin,  John,  Jr.,  (R),  b.  England;  19,  S.;  machinist,  North 
ampton;  Sept.  10,  '61;  desert.  Aug.  13,  '62;  in  1872, 
Northampton. 

Tower,  Charles  F.,  b.  Florida;  23,  S.;  butcher,  Holyoke; 
June  21,  '61;  Corp.,  July,  '61;  wd.  Salem  Heights;  dis. 
on  account  of  wds.,  Aug.  8,  '63;  in  1908,  manufacturer, 
North  Adams. 

Trudeau,  A.  Napoleon,  b.  Canada;  23,  S.;  jeweller,  Springfield; 
June  21,  '61;  Corp.,  June  1,  '62;  wd.  Fair  Oaks,  Malvern 
Hill  and  Salem  Heights;  Sergt.,  May  5,  '63;  wd.  Cold 
Harbor,  June  3,  '64,  knocked  senseless  by  cannon  ball, 
thus  being  kept  in  hosp.  till  July  31,  '64,  when  he  came 
home;  in  1875,  jeweller,  Springfield;  has  resided  in 
Providence,  R.  I.,  since  1876;  (300  Point  St.). 

Ungerer,  Joseph,  b.  West  Point,  N.  Y.;  22,  S.;  miller,  West 
Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  d.  Dec.  10,  '63,  of  wds.  rec'd. 
at  Rappahannock  Station ;  the  son  of  a  Waterloo  veteran, 
the  young  man  had  unusual  bodily  vigor,  apparently 
insensible  to  fatigue;  at  Brightwood,  in  some  of  the 
coldest  nights  when  his  Company  was  on  duty,  he  had 
been  known  to  throw  himself  on  the  ground  and  sleep 
without  covering  of  any  kind;  his  body  is  bur.  in  West 
Springfield. 

Vaille,  Virgil  L.,  b.  New  Marlboro;  28,  M.;  farmer,  West 
Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  desert,  from  Harewood  Hosp., 
Washington;  the  time  is  variously  given,  varying  from 
Sept.  30,  '62,  to  Aug.  '63;  he  has  never  been  heard  from. 

Walcott,  James  M.,  (Wagoner),  b.  New  York  City;  28,  S.; 
teamster,  Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
k.  on  the  railroad  since  the  war.  Newel1  spells  "  Wolcott." 

Walker,  John  R.,  b.  New  York  City;  37,  M.;  machinist, 
Holyoke;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  as  Sergt.,  thigh,  Spottsyl- 
vania;  d.  of  wds.,  Aug.  29,  '64,  Portsmouth  Grove  Hosp., 
R.  I.;  bur.  Springfield. 

Ward,  Ansel  H.,  (First  Sergt.),  b.  Goshen;  23,  S.;  painter, 
West  Springfield;  June  21,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  has 
represented  West  Springfield  in  the  Legislature;  in  1875, 
house  painter,  Mittineague;  in  1908,  U.  S.  Arsenal. 
Springfield. 

Willey,  Leander  F.,  b.  Chicopee;  19,  S.;  butcher,  Springfield; 
June  21,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  14,  '62,  disa.;  re.  Jan.  27,  '64, 
Co.  G,  4th  Mass.  Cav.;  dis.  Nov.  14,  '65. 


COMPANY  K 


.501 


GEO.  LOOMIS, 


W.  R.  WORTHINGTON, 


GEO.  W.  DORY. 


Winn,  Jos.  Albert,  b.  Chicopee;  23,  S.;  gunsmith,  Chicopee; 
June  21,  '61;  detailed  in  western  gun  boat  service,  Feb. 
16,  '62;  desert.  July  12,  '62;  later  in  Co.  D,  34th  Mass., 
became  First  Sergt.,  and  lost  an  arm  at  Winchester; 
dis.  on  account  of  wds.,  Feb.  13,  '65. 

Worthington,  Wm.  R.,  (R),  b.  Newfane,  Vt.;  25,  M.;  armorer, 
Springfield;  Aug.  23,  '62;  wd.  right  hand,  Wilderness; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1869,  overseer,  cotton  mill,  North 
Bennington,  Vt.;  has  been  village  trustee,  school  com 
mittee  and  selectman  for  varying  periods  from  1902  to 
the  present;  in  1908,  North  Bennington,  Vt. 


COMPANY  K,  WESTFIELD 

This  beautiful  township  of  the  plains  was  early  alive  to  the 
needs  of  the  hour  and  April  20,  '61,  the  town  hall  was  crowded 
with  an  enthusiastic  mass  of  humanity,  all  intent  on  the 
country's  needs.  Hiram  Harrison  presided,  J.  M.  Ely,  Thomas 
Kneil  and  Jos.  Arnold  were  Vice-Presidents,  with  Samuel 
Dow,  Secretary.  Thoroughly  patriotic  and  eloquent  speeches 
were  made  and  a  large  committee  appointed  to  secure  sub 
scriptions  and  to  notify  the  selectmen  of  the  public  desire 
that  a  town  meeting  be  called  the  following  Monday  to  see 
what  action  the  town  would  take.  L.  B.  Walkley,  A.  Camp 
bell  and  Rufus  Noble  were  made  recruiting  officers  to  secure 
able-bodied  men  to  enlist,  forty-six  names  being  registered 
that  evening. 

The  town  meeting  was  held  on  the  29th,  when  it  was  voted 
to  raise  $10,000  for  the  equipping  of  the  Company  and  the 
care  of  families.  The  town  finance  committee  to  take  charge 
of  the  funds  raised  by  the  town  consisted  of  Laflin  Cutler, 


502  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

R.  Noble  and  Samuel  Fowler.  May  4th,  the  Company  having 
acquired  the  requisite  number,  organized  by  electing  L.  B. 
Walkley,  Captain;  Pliny  Wood,  David  M.  Chase,  Edwin  T. 
Johnson  and  Albion  W.  Lewis,  Lieutenants,  in  the  First, 
Second,  Third,  and  Fourth  order.  Ten  days  later,  the  Rough 
and  Ready  Engine  Company  gave  the  Company  a  compli 
mentary  supper  at  the  Foster  House,  where  speeches  were  in 
order  from  many  sources,  including  Postmaster  Noble,  Lieu 
tenants  Chase  and  Johnson.  All  this  time  the  ladies  of 
Westfield  were  emulating  their  sisters  in  other  towns  in  the 
preparation  of  underwear,  and  other  necessary  articles -for 
the  soldiers. 

June  14th  was  conspicuous  in  town  and  Company  annals 
in  that  then  the  soldiers  departed  for  the  general  rendezvous 
in  Springfield.  The  Rough  and  Ready  was  again  in  evidence, 
this  time  to  see  its  friends  off,  an  office  divided  with  an 
organization  of  horsemen,  commanded  by  Colonel  Asa  Barr. 
The  departure  was  witnessed  by  nearly  two  thousand  people 
who  gathered  upon  the  green  to  have  a  part  in  the  leave-tak 
ing.  June  22d,  under  special  permission,  the  boys  came  home 
for  a  brief  visit,  having  been  mustered  into  the  U.  S.  service 
the  day  before.  On  the  afternoon  of  Saturday,  the  22d,  the 
central  green  was  again  alive  with  people,  this  time  to  see 
the  presentation  of  a  sword  to  Captain  Walkley  by  M.  B. 
Whitney,  Esq.,  both  giver  and  received  being  alike  happy  in 
their  remarks.  Monday,  the  24th,  before  returning  to 
Hampden  Park,  Captain  Walkley  served  a  collation  to  the 
Company  at  his  home.  Those  of  Co.  K  who  had  worked  in 
the  Hampden  Cigar  Co.  were  given  a  sum  of  money  by 
Messrs.  Alonzo  Whitney  and  Dudley  N.  Lane,  $55.00  each, 
and  $52.00  from  remaining  employees. 

(For  full  explanation  of  abbreviations,  see  page  332.) 
COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS 

CAPTAINS 

Lucius  B.  Walkley,  b.  Westfield;  36,  M.;  deputy  sheriff, 
Westfield;  June  14,  '61;  on  account  of  ill  health,  res. 
July  11,  '62;  in  Nov.,  same  year,  10th  day,  com.  Major, 
46th  Mass.;  prom.  Lieut.  Colonel,  Feb.  5,  '63;  M.  O. 
July  29,  '63;  in  1875,  brick  maker,  mason  and  builder, 
Westfield;  as  a  young  man,  Capt.  Walkley  had  served 


COMPANY  K  503 

five  years  in  the  3d  U.  S.  Artillery,  enlisting  March  18, 
1840,  and  doing  duty  along  the  coast  from  New  York 
to  Florida. 

Edwin  T.  Johnson,  July  12,  '62;  wd.  May  12,  '64,  Spottsyl- 
vania;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  Sligo,  Montgomery 
Co.,  Md. 

FIRST    LIEUTENANTS 

David  M.  Chase,  b.  Cumberland,  R.  I.;  31,  M.;  cigar  maker, 
Westfield;  June  14,  '61;  had  earlier  held  a  com.  as 
Second  Lieut,  in  the  militia;  res.  June  20,  '62,  disa.,  on 
account  of  lame  ankle,  broken  before  the  war;  in  1875, 
commercial  traveller,  Westfield. 

George  W.  Bigelow;  Sept.  29,  '62;  from  Co.  F;  prom.  Capt., 
Co.  F. 

Henry  A.  Brown,  Jan.  25,  '63;  detailed  as  A.  A.  A.  G.,  Dec. 
18,  '63,  headquarters,  2d  Brigade,  3d  Div.,  6th  Army 
Corps;  on  staff  duty,  remainder  of  service;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64;  bvt.  Capt.,  March  13,  '65;  in  1873,  painter, 
Northampton;  1909,  Delta,  Ohio. 

Edward  H.  Graves,  Sept.  23,  '63;  from  Co.  C;  wd.  Wilderness; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64. 

SECOND    LIEUTENANTS 

Edwin  T.  Johnson,  b.  Williamsburg ;  40,  M.;  organ  pipe 
maker,  Westfield;  June  14,  '61;  prom.  Capt.,  July  12,  '62. 

Henry  A.  Brown,  from  Sergt.,  Co.  C;  Sept.  29,  '62;  prom. 
First  Lieut. 

David  M.  Moore;  from  Corp.,  Nov.  27,  '62;  trans.  June  20,  '64, 
37th  Mass.;  dis.  as  supernumerary,  July  1,  '64. 

NON-COMMISSIONED  OFFICERS  AND  PRIVATES 

Abrams,  Thomas,  b.  Canada;  36,  S.;  bootmaker,  Spencer; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  Dec.  12,  '62,  disa.;  in  1875,  Westfield; 
d.  Spencer,  July  28,  1896. 

Anthony,  Henry,  b.  Germany;  36,  M.;  cigar  maker,  West- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  March  1,  '62,  disa.;  later  in 
16th  Conn.,  and  Co.  A,  27th  Mass.;  in  1875,  Westfield. 

Atkins,  George  A.,  b.  Hartford,  Conn.;  29,  M.;  painter, 
Westfield;  June  14,  '61;  desert.  Jan.  1,  '62;  in  1875, 
Hartford;  dead. 


504 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


LIEUT.  T.  S.  NOBLE   (F), 


CAPT.  E.  T.  JOHNSON. 


Aufort,  George  F.,  b.  Germany;  38,  M.;  cigar  maker,  West- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  New 
Haven,  Conn.;  d.  Dec.  24,  1904,  S.  H.,  Chelsea. 

Bacon,  James  E.,  b.  Worcester;  20,  S.;  bootmaker,  Leicester; 
June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  later  served  in  2d  Mass. 
Cav.;  in  1875,  farmer,  New  Braintree. 

Barden,  Henry  M.,  b.  Southwick;  37,  M.;  cigar  maker,  West- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  Oct.  11,  '62,  disa. 

Barden,  Marshall,  (Corp.),  b.  Southwick;  37,  S.;  cooper, 
Southwick;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  chest,  May  31,  '62,  Fair 
Oaks;  d.  of  wds.,  David's  Island,  N.  Y.  Harbor,  June 
12,  '62. 

Bates,  Henry  C.,  b.  Gill;  25,  S.;  carpenter,  Westfield;  June 
14,  '61;  wd.  thigh,  May  3,  '63,  Salem  Heights;  trans. 
March  16,  '64,  24th  Regt.,  V.  R.  C.;  in  1875,  Chicopee; 
1908,  149  Sherman  St.,  Springfield. 

Bates,  Stephen,  (R),  b.  Manitou,  N.  Y.;  17,  S.;  hostler, 
Greenfield;  Sept.  6,  '61;  dis.  March  1,  '62,  disa.;  1907, 
N.  S.  H.,  Togus,  Me. 

Baynes,  Levi  D.,  b.  Holden;  18,  S.;  teamster,  Spencer;  June 
14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  railroadman,  Spring 
field  ;  Newell  says  ' '  Boynes ' '  and  makes  him  ' '  Wagoner. ' ' 

Beaumont,  John  J.,  b.  England;  22,  S.;  bootmaker,  Spencer; 
June  14,  '61;  Corp.,  Jan.  1,  '63;  wd.  head,  Salem  Heights, 
unconscious  for  some  time;  "one-eighth  inch  closer,"  said 
the  Surgeon,  "and  you  would  never  have  known  what 
hit  you;"  his  wd.  kept  him  from  Gettysburg,  the  only 


COMPANY  K  505 

fight  missed;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  merchant, 
Worcester;  in  1908,  real  estate,  Worcester. 

Bemis,  Oscar  R.,  b.  Spencer;  28,  M.;  bootmaker,  Spencer; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  Sept.  30,  '61,  disa.;  en.  Co.  E.,  34th 
Mass.,  Aug.  26,  '62;  d.  hosp.,  July  31,  '63;  bur.  Spencer. 

Bercume,  Silas,  b.  Canada;  24,  S.;  bootmaker,  Spencer; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  July  29,  '62,  disa.;  in  1875,  Warren. 

Boynes,  David;    vide  Baynes,  Levi  D. 

Brooks,  George,  b.  Hartford,  Conn.;  20,  S.;  cigar  maker, 
Westfield;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  Dec.  17,  '61,  disa.;  d. 
Westfield  before  1875. 

Bullard,  Amasa  Bemis,  b.  Spencer;  23,  S.;  bootmaker, 
Spencer;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1872,  boot 
cutter,  Holliston;  d.  and  bur.  in  Spencer. 

Carney,  Thomas,  b,  Ireland;  27,  M.;  bootmaker,  Spencer; 
June  14,  '61;  d.  Aug.  30,  '61,  Columbia  College  Hosp., 
Washington,  typhoid  fever,  one  of  the  first  deaths  in  the 
Company. 

Carter,  Lewis  C.,  b.  Canada;  22,  S.;  harness  maker,  West- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  harness 
maker,  Great  Barrington. 

Caswell,  Hiram  K.,  b.  Hardwick;  28,  M.;  piano  leg  maker, 
Westfield;  June  14,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June 
20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  wd. 
Sailor's  Creek,  April  6,  '65;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in  1875, 
railroad  man,  Dana;  rep.  dead,  1903. 

Chamberlain,  Silas  T.,  b.  Thetford,  Vt.;  28,  M.;  bootmaker, 
Spencer;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  said 
to  be  in  Boston. 

Clark,  George  E.,  b.  Millbury;  27,  M.;  bootmaker,  Spencer; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  26,  '62,  disa.;  later  in  2d  Conn. 
Heavy  Artillery;  wd.  Oct.  17,  '64  and  trans.  3d  Regt., 
V.  R.  C.;  dis.  Sept.  2,  '65;  in  1869,  shoemaker,  Win 
chester;  d.  Feb.  19,  1900,  N.  S.  H.,  Togus,  Me. 

Clark,  Willis  W.,  (Mus.);  21,  S.;  bookkeeper,  Westfield; 
June  21,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill;  dis.  Dec. 
5,  '62,  disa. ;  later  in  30th  Unattached  Company,  Heavy 
Artillery;  in  1875,  Hartford. 

Clemence,  Joseph,  b.  Westfield;  28,  S.;  painter,  Westfield; 
June  14,  '61;  trans.  March  16,  '64,  V.  R.  C.;  M.  O. 
July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  painter,  Westfield;  dead. 

Collier,  Anson  I.,  b.   Rutland;    25,  M.;    carpenter,  Spencer; 


506  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY- 

June  14,  '61;    wd.  leg,  Malvern  Hill,  and  in  both  arms, 

May  3,  '63,  Salem  Heights;   trans.  Sept.  12,  '63,  Co.  A, 

20th  V.  R.  C.;    re.  April  18,  '64,  cr.  Boston;    dis.  Nov. 
.    21,  '65;   in  1869,  farmer,  Spencer;    1909,  Spencer. 
Conway,  William,  b.  Sutton;    18,  S.;  farmer,  Leicester;  June 

14,  '61;    d.  Aug.  4,  '62,  Philadelphia. 
Cook,  Albert  H.,  b.  Westfield;    22,  S.;    teamster,  Westfield; 

June  14,  '61;   re.  Dec.  21,  '63;   trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th 

Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '64; 

in  1875,  farmer,  Westfield;   dead. 
Cooney,  John,  b.  Ireland;  27,  S.;  boot-maker,  Spencer;  June 

14,  '61;  dis.  Jan.  13,  '63,  disa.;  d.  Jan.  20,  1887,  N.  S.  H., 

Togus,  Me. 
Copley,  Henry  L.,  b.  Suffield,  Conn.;    29,  M.;    whip  maker, 

Westfield;    June   14,   '61;    trans.   Nov.   16,   '61,  western 

gunboat  service;    Newell  spells  "Copeley." 
Copley,   Hiram  H.,  b.  West  Suffield,   Conn.;    19,   S.;    whip 

maker,  Westfield;   June  14,  '61;   dis.  July  15,  '62,  disa.; 

en.  Feb.  9,  '65,  Co.  C,  27th  Mass.;    M.  O.  July  26,  '65; 

in  1909,  Westfield;   Newell  spells  "Copeley." 
Crosby,   Isaiah,   b.    Brewster;    31,   M.;    mechanic,   Spencer; 

June  14,  '61;   k.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill. 
Day,   Lawrence,  b.   East  Hartford,   Conn.;    19,  S.;    hostler, 

Westfield;  June  14,  '61;   k.  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania; 

Newell   says   "k.   at   Malvern   Hill"   and   same   is   blue 

penciled  on  State  House  rolls ;  the  later  record  is  probably 

correct;    his  comrades  nicknamed  him  " Mahogany." 
Dinneen,  James,  b.  Ireland;    19,  S.;    blacksmith,  Westfield; 

June  14,  '61;    k.  May  12,  '64,  Spottsylvania. 
Evans,  Moses  W.,  (Sergt.),  b.  Tompkinsville,  N.  Y.;    20,  S.; 

cigar  maker,   Cambridge;    June    14,    '61;    prom.   Sergt. 

Major,  (F.  and  S.),  Oct.  10,  '62;  rep.  dead,  1901. 
Fowler,  Sherman  J.,  b.  New  Haven,  Conn.;    22,  S.;    hostler, 

Westfield;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  hack 

driver,   Hartford;    rep.   dead,    1899. 
Freed,    Hiram,    (Corp.),   b.    Sellersville,    Pa.;     24,   S.;    cigar 

maker,  Westfield;   June  14,  '61;   dis.  Nov.  29,  62,  disa.; 

in  1875,  cigar  manufacturer,  Westfield;    drowned,  1883, 

Conn. 

Furrow,  George  F.,  b.  Westfield;    18,  S.;   whip  maker,  West- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  20,  '64, 

37th   Mass.;    trans.   June   21,    '65,   20th   Mass.;    M.   O. 


COMPANY  K  507 

July   16,   '65;    in   1875,  Westfield;    dead;    State  House 
rolls  give  "Furron." 

Furrow,  Henry,  b.  Westfield;  22,  S.;  whip  maker,  Westfield; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  19,  '62,  disa.,  occasioned  by  loss 
of  right  thumb;  later  served  in  V.  R.  C.;  in  1875,  whip 
maker,  Westfield;  dead;  State  House  rolls  give  "Furron." 

Gaddes,  Joseph,  b.  Portsmouth,  N.  H.;  24,  S.;  cigar  maker, 
Westfield;  June  14,  '61;  d.  as  Sergt.,  Fredericksburg, 
June  1,  '64,  of  wds.  received  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness. 

Gardner,  Nelson  H.,  (First  Sergt.),  b.  Suffield,  Conn.;  30,  M.; 
builder,  Westfield;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern 
Hill;  prom.  Second  Lieut.,  Sept.  29,  '62,  Co.  A. 

Gaylord,  James,  b.  Westfield;   19,  S.;  cigar  maker,  Westfield; 

June  14,  '61;   dis.  April  17,  '62,  disa.;   en.  July  31,  '62, 

Co.  G,  34th  Mass.;   k.  as  Sergt.,  Oct.  13,  '64,  near  Stras- 

burg,  Va. 
Gaynor,    Thomas,    b.    Ireland;     21,    S.;     bootmaker,    Ware; 

June   14,   '61;    dis.  July  25,   '62,  disa.;    d.  before   1875, 

in  Michigan. 

Ginn,  John  N.,  (R),  b.  Pittsfield;  18,  S.;  farmer,  Pittsfield; 
March  17,  '62;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  M.  O. 
March  18,  '65;  in  1875,  employ  of  B.  &  A.  R.  R.,  Worces 
ter;  dead. 

Gonzales,  Manuel,  b.  Spain;  21,  S.;  cigar  maker,  Westfield; 
June  14,  '61;  trans.  Nov.  9,  '62,  Battery  G,  2d  U.  S. 
Artillery;  dis.  from  Battery  L,  1st  U.  S.  Artillery,  Fort 
Schuyler,  N.  Y.  Harbor,  Nov.  9,  '65. 

Gorham,  Horace  H.,  b.  Russell;  27,  S.;  whip  maker,  West- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  leg,  Malvern  Hill  and  capt., 
confined  in  Richmond  20  days,  in  hosp.  Fort.  Monroe  and 
parole  camp,  Annapolis,  rejoining  Regt.  at  Cherry  Run; 
wd.  in  left  thigh,  May  9,  '64,  Wilderness,  being  crippled 
thus  for  life;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1908,  Huntington. 

Graham,  John,  b.  Millbury;  25,  S.;  bootmaker,  Ware;  June 
14,  '61;  trans.  Aug.  25,  '63,  Signal  Corps;  dis.  May  31, 
'64;  in  1875,  Rochdale;  dead. 

Griffin,  Edwin  T.,  b.  Windsor,  Conn.;  19,  S.;  farmer,  Chico- 
pee;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  May  19,  1896, 
N.  S.  H.,  Togus,  Me. 

Hock,   Carl,  b.   Germany;    30,   M.;    cigar  maker,  Westfield;, 


508 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


CORP.  J.  J.  BEAUMONT, 


COUP.  A.  W.  HUNTER. 


June  14,  '61;  dis.  April  17,  '62,  disa.;  en.  July  31,  '62, 
Co.  G,  34th  Mass.;  M.  O.  as  Sergt.,  June  16,  '65;  d. 
Sept.  8,  1870,  Westfield;  also  Hoch. 

Hubbard,  John,  b.  Mason,  N.  H.;  20,  S.;  cigar  maker,  West- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  Sept.  29,  '62  for  com.,  Second 
Lieut.,  10th  N.  H.  Vols.;  later  First  Lieut,  and  Capt.; 
in  1895,  Concord,  N.  H. 

Hunter,  Alexander  W.,  b.  Germany;  21,  S. ;  cigar  maker,  West- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  Corp.,  Jan.  1,  '63;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
"After  forty  years  in  the  cigar  and  tobacco  business,  am 
now  taking  a  rest  so  as  to  be  ready  for  the  last  call;" 
served  four  years  as  Alderman,  4th  Ward,  Waukegan,  111. 

Jarrold,  Thomas,  b.  England;  23,  S.;  cigar  maker,  Westfield; 
June  14,  '61;  wd.  Malvern  Hill;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in 
1875,  Westfield;  dead;  name  also  found  as  Jerold  and 
Jerald. 

Jones,  Henry  G.,b.  South  Chariest  own,  N.  H.;  23,  M.;  builder, 
Westfield;  dis.  July  15,  '62,  disa.;  in  1875,  photographer, 
Westfield. 

Jones,  John  W.,  (R),  b.  Wales,  Great  Britain;  22,  S.;  -  — , 
Greenfield;  Sept.  5,  '61;  k.  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness. 

Kalfeur,  Carl,  b.  Germany;  27,  S.;  cigar  maker,  Westfield; 
June  14,  '61;  d.  Dec.  9,  '62  and  bur.  in  Smoky  Hill 
Camp,  Va.;  name  also  given  as  Kalfear. 


COMPANY  K  509 

Kelly,  Patrick,  b.  Ireland;  26,  S.;  bootmaker,  Spencer; 
'June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  stationary 
engineer,  Spencer;  d.  June  30,  1903. 

Knight,  Charles  L.,  b.  Charlton;  27,  S.;  painter,  Westfield; 
June  14,  '61;  Corp.,  July  3,  '62;  wd.  May  3,  '63,  Salem 
Heights;  trans.  V.  R.  C.;  M.  O.  June  20^,  '64;  in  1875, 
painter,  Westfield;  dead. 

Lay,  James  B.,  (R),  b.  Westfield;  18,  S.;  farmer;  Brightwood, 

'  D.  C.,  Nov.  14,  '61;    k.  July  1,  '62,  Malvern  Hill;   that 

he  might  enlist  with  his  brother,  Wm.,  the  young  man 

had  paid  his  own  fare  to  Brightwood;    his  body  rests 

among  the  thousands  of  unknown  dead  at  Arlington. 

Lay,  Wm.  G.,  b.  Westfield;  21,  S.;  painter,  Westfield;  wd. 
leg,  Salem  Heights,  and  head,  Spottsylvania ;  Corp., 
June  1,  '64;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  James  and  William  were 
sons  of  Ralph  Lay  who  had  four  sons  and  a  son-in-law 
in  the  service;  Henry  of  Co.  L,  1st  Mass.  Cav.,  who  fell 
in  the  Valley,  at  age  of  18,  was  the  youngest  to  die  from 
Westfield;  James  was  the  first  to  fall  in  battle  from  the 
town;  in  1875,  William  was  a  whip  maker  in  WTestfield; 
d.  June  13,  1889. 

Lewis,  Edward  T.,  (Corp.),  b.  Northampton;  24,  S.;  shoe 
dealer,  Westfield;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  8,  '61,  disa.; 
en.  as  Sergt.,  Dec.  25,  '61,  31st  Mass.;  Feb.  9,  '63,  re 
ceived  com.  as  Second  Lieut.,  4th  Louisiana  Guards, 
later  known  as  the  79th  U.  S.  Colored  Infantry;  later, 
prom.  Capt.;  dis.  through  disa.,  June  17,  '65;  Dec.,  '66, 
returning  to  New  Orleans,  was  appointed  to  a  position 
in  Bureau  of  Refugees,  etc.,  remaining  till  June,  '67;  in 
1869,  railroad  employ,  Carlin,  Nev.;  in  1908,  N.  S.  H., 
Milwaukee,  Wis. 

Littlefield,  John  D.,  b.  Preble,  N.  Y.;  24,  M.;  cigar  maker, 
Westfield;  June  14,  '61;  d.  typhoid  fever,  Oct.  11,  '61, 
Brightwood,  D.  C.;  left  wife  and  child  in  Poquonock, 
Conn. ;  his  parents  resided  in  Ohio. 

Loomis,  Wm.  H.,  (Corp.),  b.  West  Springfield;  19,  S.;  book 
keeper,  New  Haven,  Conn.;  June  14,  '61;  Sergt.,  Aug. 
20,  '62,  First  Sergt.,  Jan.  1,  '63;  wd.  arm,  June  8,  '64, 
Cold  Harbor;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  ab.  only  ten  days  in 
enlistment;  in  1909,  dentist,  Rockville,  Conn.;  member 
of  State  Dental  Commission,  1901-04;  Councilman,  City 
of  Rockville  six  years,  Mayor  two  terms,  1900-04;  mem 
ber  State  Assemblv,  1903-04;  Past  Commander  local 


510  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Post,  G.  A.  R.,  and  Jun.  Vice-Commander  Dept.,  Conn.; 
member  Conn.  Army  and  Navy  Club,  and  of  the  Conn. 
Society  of  Sons  of  the  American  Revolution;  in  Free 
Masonry  is  a  member  of  Lodge,  Chapter,  Council  and 
Commandery. 

Loppy,  Wm.  H.;   vide  Luther,  C.  H. 

Lovett,  Murray,  b.  Amherst;  22,  S.;  bootmaker,  Amherst; 
June  14,  '61;  d.  disease,  June  4,  '62,  Fair  Oaks. 

Luther,  Charles  H.,  b.  Troy,  N.  Y.;  23,  S.;  hostler,  Troy, 
N.  Y.;  June  14,  '61;  after  Fredericksburg  fight,  trans. 
V.  R.  C.;  his  real  name  was  Wm.  H.  Loppy  and  as  such, 
has  resided  in  Vineland,  N.  J.,  since  1864;  was  Town 
Clerk,  1879-81;  Collector  and  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
1881-83;  Postmaster,  1883-87;  Fire  Commissioner,  1887, 
1895. 

Lyon,  Thomas,  b.  Ireland;  20,  S.;  bootmaker,  Spencer; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  Nov.  9,  '62  to  re.  Battery  G,  2d  U.  S. 
Artillery. 

McCloskey,  Thomas,  b.  Charlestown;  29,  S.;  bootmaker, 
Spencer;  June  14,  '61;  desert.  Sept.  17,  '61;  later  served 
in  a  Pa.  Regiment. 

Marcell,  Andrew,  b.  Canada;  20,  S.;  blacksmith,  Spencer; 
June  14,  '61;  wd.  right  thigh,  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness; 
was  one  of  the  color  guard,  Nov.  19,  '63,  when  Lincoln 
made  his  famous  speech  at  Gettysburg;  M.  O.  July  1, 
'64;  d.  before  1875  in  Springfield;  Newell  has  "Marsell." 

Mason,  Wm.  W.,  b.  England;  34,  M.;  mechanic,  Spencer; 
June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  mechanic, 
Spencer;  d.  June  7,  1883. 

Moore,  .David  M.,  (Corp.),  b.  Ireland;  24,  S.;  bootmaker, 
Spencer;  June  14,  '61;  prom.  Second  Lieut. 

Moore,  Ephraim  T.,  b.  Stockbridge;  27,  M.;  whip  maker, 
Westfield;  June  14,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  k.  May  5,  '64, 
Wilderness. 

Moore,  Thomas,  b.   England;    20,  M.;    bootmaker,  Spencer; 
June '14,  '61;   wd.  leg  and  shoulder,  Wilderness;    M.  O. 
July    1,    '64;    in    1875,   said  to  reside  in  Wisconsin;    d. 
1888,  N.  S.   H.,  Dayton,  Ohio. 

Morse,  Wm.  J.,  b.  England;  27,  M.;  whip  maker,  Westfield; 
June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 'in  1875,  whip  maker, 
Westfield;  rep.  dead,  1899. 


COMPANY  K 


I  I 


CORP.   WM.   G.   LAY, 


CORP.   G.   D.   SMITH, 


1ST.   SERG'T.   W.   H.   LOOMIS, 


SERG'T.  .1.   M.   PEEBLES, 


SERGT.   MAJ.   M.   W.   EVANS. 


Neff,  John,  b.  Germany;  22,  S.;  farmer,  Wilbraham;  June 
14,  '61;  re.  Dec.  2*1,  '63,  cr.  Westfield;  d.  June  1,  '64  of 
wds.  received  May  9,  '64,  Wilderness. 

Newhouse,  Albert  N.  C.,  b.  Germany;  21,  S.;  cigar  maker, 
Westfield;  June  21,  '61;  wd.  Malvern  Hill  and  in  the 
Wilderness;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1875,  New  York  City; 
in*  1908,  Windsor,  Conn. 

Noble,  James  M.,  b.  Westfield;  27,  S.;  whip  maker;  June 
14,  '61;  wd.  Malvern  Hill,  July  1,  '62;  dis.  Nov.  30,  '62, 
disa.;  by  re.  came  back  to  Regt.  and  Company,  March 
13,  '63;  Corp.,  Sept.  24,  '63;  wd.  arm,  Wilderness; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1909,  whip  maker,  Westfield. 

Noble,  Terry  S.,  (Corp.),  b.  Westfield;    27,  S.;    whip  maker, 


512  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Westfield;  June  14,  '61;  First  Sergt.,  Nov.,  '61;  prom. 
Second  Lieut.,  Co.  F;  July  27,  1870,  Second  Lieut., 
2d  Regt.,  M.  V.  M.;  in  1907,  Westfield. 

Peebles,  James  M.,  b.  Palmer;  22,  S.;  whip  maker,  Westfield; 
June  14,  '61;  Corp.,  Aug.  20,  '62;  Sergt.,  Jan.  1,  '63; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  d.  1866,  Westfield;  bur.  Palmer. 

Perkins,  Henry  E.,  b.  Westfield;  24,  M.;  whip  maker,  West- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  capt.,  Wilderness, 
held  at  Andersonville  six  months  and  twenty-two  days; 
trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65, 
20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16,  '65;  in  1875,  Westfield;  rep. 
dead,  1898. 

Plaisted,  Mark  H.,  (Sergt.),  b.  South  Berwick,  Me.;  24,  M.; 
organ  builder;  May  31,  '61;  desert,  from  Blackwell's 
Island  Hosp.,  Sept.,  '62. 

Prouty,  Horace  E.,  b.  Spencer;  30,  M.;  bootmaker,  Spencer; 
June  14,  '61;  Corp.,  Aug.  20,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
in  1875,  lived  in  Pa.;  d.  Nov.  19,  1884,  Spencer. 

Rabson,  James,  b.  Albany,  N.  Y.;  28,  S.;  cigar  maker, 
Albany,  N.  Y.;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  also  "Robson." 

Raider,  Henry  M.,  (R),  N.  F.  R.  except  "dis.  Nov.  24,  '62, 

disa." 
Reed,  Edward  P.,  b.  Chicopee;   21,  S.;  blacksmith,  Westfield; 

June  14,  '61;  wd.  Spottsylvania ;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  dead. 

Reinhardt,  Robert,  (R),  b.  Germany;  21,  S.;  shoemaker, 
Pittsfield;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  k.  Aug.  21, 
'64,  near  Charlestown,  W.  Va.  ' 

Robinson,  George,  b.  Wilbraham;  20,  S.;  carpenter,  Wilbra- 
ham;  June  14,  '61;  k.  May  5,  '64,  Wilderness. 

Rochan,  Alphonse,  b.  Canada;  19,  S.;  cigar  maker,  West- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  rep.  dead,  1898. 

Rowell,  Daniel  M.,  b.  Waterford,  Vt.;  20,  S.;  mechanic, 
Spencer;  June  14,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63;  trans.  June  20, 
'64,  37th  Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O. 
July  16,  '65;  in  1875  was  said  to  be  in  Vermont. 

Sackett,  Cornelius,  b.  Westfield;  18,  S.;  butcher,  Westfield; 
June  14,  '61;  Corp.,  Jan.  1,  '63;  wd.  leg,  June  18,  '64, 
front  of  Petersburg;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  en.  Dec.  30,  '64, 
Co.  M,  3d  Mass.  Cav.;  Sergt.,  Feb.  10,  '65;  dis.  Sept.  28, 
'65,  Ft.  Leavenworth,  Kan.;  the  soldier  came  within  one 
of  not  being  wd.  at  all,  since,  on  the  19th,  the  Regt.  was 


COMPANY  K  513 

withdrawn  from  the  front  to  start  for  home ;  unable  to 
find  the  ball  at  first,  the  surgeons  gave  him  a  place  in 
the  field  whereon  to  lie  until  morn;  while  trying  next 
day  to  find  a  branch  to  use  as  a  cane,  he  was  surprised 
to  find  a  staff  that  had  seen  long  service;  it  seemed 
providentially  near;  it  helped  him  off  and  is  still  retained 
as  a  souvenir;  as  late  as  1905,  splinters  of  bone  worked 
out  of  his  wd.;  not  absent  from  Regt.  a  day;  in  1875, 
livery  business,  Westfield;  later  in  hotel  and  restaurant 
line;  has  visited  all  the  states  of  the  Union  east  of  the 
Rockies,  except  Maine  and  Texas;  in  1908,  retired, 
still  in  Westfield;  at  the  Wilderness,  he  carried  his  can 
teen  to  a  wounded  man  between  the  lines,  and  at 
Spottsylvania,  where  Co.  K  was  at  the  extreme  right, 
he  was  the  very  last  man  in  the  Company. 

Sargent,  Theodore,  (Corp.),  20,  S.;  farmer,  Spencer;  re. 
Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Westfield;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th 
Mass.;  trans.  June  21,  '65,  20th  Mass.;  M.  O.  July  16, 
'65;  in  1875,  Leominster;  dead. 

Smith,  Charles  A.,  b.  Hadley;  21,  — ;  machinist,  Greenfield; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  May  1,  '62,  disa. 

Smith,  George  D.,  b.  Southwick;  21,  S.;  whip  maker,  West- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  Corp.,  June  1,  '64;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64; 
in  1875,  Westfield;  dead. 

Snow,  Albert,  b.  Chester;  29,  S.;  carpenter,  Westfield; 
June  14,  '61;  d.  Dec.  28,  '61,  Brightwood,  D.  C.;  bur. 
Westfield. 

Solomon,  Henry,  (Sergt.),  b.  England;  21,  S.;  cigar  maker, 
New  York  City;  June  14,  '61;  dis.  Aug.  5,  '62,  disa.; 
went  to  Australia;  dead. 

Solomon,  John,  b.  England;  18,  S.;  cigar  maker,  New  York 
City;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  wd.  foot,  Spott 
sylvania;  in  1875,  Australia;  dead. 

Sparks,  John  H.,  (R),  b.  Suffield,  Conn.;  18,  S.;  laborer, 
Springfield;  Aug.  22,  '62;  dis.  Nov.  9,  '62,  disa.;  also 
found  as  George  H. 

Sprague,  Samuel,  b.  Northbridge;  24,  S.;  joiner,  Westfield; 
June  14,  '61;  k.  May  8,  '64,  Wilderness. 

Stiles/-, Charles  H.,  b.  Southwick;  22,  S.;  currier,  Westfield; 
June  14,  '61;  trans.  Jan.  1,  '63,  6th  U.  S.  Cav. ;  in  1875, 
paper  maker,  Westfield;  dead. 


514 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


CORP.  C.  SACKETT,  G.  W.  THOMPSON, 


C.  H.  LUTHER. 


Swan,  Adam,  (Sergt.),  b.  New  York  City;  27,  M.;  cigar 
maker,  Westfield;  June  14,  '61;  Sergt.,  June  1,  '64;  at 
different  times,  carried  both  State  and  National  Colors; 
M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1908,  Westfield. 

Thompson,  George  W.,  (R),  b.  Bernardston;  24,  — ;  farmer, 
Greenfield;  Sept.  5,  '61;  wd.  Malvern  Hill;  re.  Jan. 

13,  '64;     wd.    Wilderness;     trans.    June    19,    '64,    37th 
Mass.;    dis.  Feb.  11,  '65;    in  1875,  Chesterfield;    in  1909, 
Florence. 

Tinkham,  Joseph  A.,  b.  Westfield;  23,  S.;  building  mover, 
Westfield;  June  14,  '61;  wd.  Malvern  Hill;  dis.  as 
Corp.,  Feb.,  '63,  disa.;  in  1875,  whip  maker,  Westfield; 
dead. 

Toomy,  Edmund,  b.  Charlton;  22,  S.;  bootmaker,  Spencer; 
June  14,  '61;  d.  Aug.  11,  '62;  said  to  have  d.  of  home 
sickness;  body  sent  home  to  Spencer;  date  of  death  also 
given  as  July  19. 

Trainer,  John,  b.  Ipswich;    22,  S.;    currier,  Westfield;    June 

14,  '61;     d.    May    20,    '64,    Fredericksburg,    from    wds. 
received  May  7,  '64,  Wilderness. 

Tyler,  Merrick  M.,  (Wagoner),  b.  Bernardston;  20,  S.;  team 
ster,  Bernardston;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in 
1875,  Westfield;  rep.  dead,  1899. 

Tyrell,  Alonzo;     19,  S.;    bootmaker,  Spencer;    June   14,   '61 
dis.  from  hosp.  Aug.  18,  '61,  disa. 


UN  ASSIGN  ED  RECRUITS  515 

Wadge,  Joseph,  b.  Canada;  30,  M.;  wire  drawer,  Spencer; 
June  14,  '61;  dis.  April  17,  '62,  disa.;  in  1875,  resided 
in  Wisconsin. 

Wallace,  Thomas,  (R),  b.  Ireland;  35,  S.;  laborer,  Westfield; 
Dec.  23,  '63;  wd.  Wilderness;  trans.  June  20,  '64,  37th 
Mass.;  dis.  March  3,  '65,  disa. 

W'heeler,  Homer  S.,  b.  Westfield;  19,  S.;  cigar  maker,  West- 
field;  June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  11,  '64;  in  1875,  Lowell; 
dead. 

Whittaker,  John  W.,  (Mus.),  b.  Troy,  N.  Y.;  33,  S.;  cigar 
maker,  Troy,  N.  Y.;  June  14, '61 ;"  M.  O.  July  1, '64;  dead. 

Woods,  Rufus  M.,  b.  Wendell;  20,  S.;  tailor,  Westfield; 
June  14,  '61;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  later,  First  Sergt.,  3d 
Mass.  Cav.;  prom.  First  Lieut.,  Oct.  1,  '65;  in  1909,  131 
Superior  St.,  Providence,  R.  I. 

Worthington,  John  M.,  b.  Spencer;  24,  M.;  carpenter,  Spen 
cer;  June  21,  '61;  re.  Dec.  21,  '63,  cr.  Westfield;  trans, 
as  Sergt.,  June  20,  '64,  37th  Mass.;  k.  Sept.  19,  '64, 
Winchester;  on  enlistment,  was  offered  the  position  of 
regimental  carpenter,  but  he  declined,  saying,  "I  came 
out  to  fight;  I  can  work  at  my  trade  at  home." 

Young,  John  B.,  b.  Philadelphia;  26,  M.;  cigar  maker, 
Westfield;  June  14,  '61;  Corp.,  Aug.  20,  '62;  Sergt., 
Sept.  29,  '62;  M.  O.  July  1,  '64;  in  1909,  36  Church  St., 
Hartford,  Conn. 


UNASSIGNED  RECRUITS 

Atwood,   Philip;    28,  — ;  — ,   Cambridge;    Aug.   4,   '62; 

trans.  V.  R.  C. 
Burnett,  Charles;    29,  S.;    stonecutter,   New  York  City;   Jan. 

8,  '64,  cr.  West  Springfield;    N.  F.  R. 

Burns,  Reuben;  28,  S.;  farmer,  Colrain;  Sept.  3,  '62;  dis. 
April  27,  '63,  disa.;  also  "Barnes." 

Clate,  Marshall;  22,  S.;  farmer,  Greenfield;  March  7,  '62; 
N.  F.  R.;  also  "Slate." 

Callaghan,  John;  18,  S.;  farmer,  Gill;  Aug.  11,  '62;  served 
time  out  in  some  other  regt.;  precisely  the  same  descrip 
tion  is  given  for  Corp.  John  Gallighan,  Co.  C,  27th  Mass. 

Carroll,  Thomas;  21,  — ;  laborer,  Colrain;  Aug.  29,  '62; 
N.  F.  R.;  vide  Letter,  W.  D.,  Sept.  14,  1900. 


516  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

Cullen,  Walace  B.;  34,  M.;  merchant,  Northampton;  March 
18,  '62;  N.  F.  R. 

Currier,  Joseph  H.;  37,  — ;  carpenter,  Colrain;  Aug.  29,  '62; 
desert.  Sept.,  '62;  arrested  Sept.  12,  '63;  has  a  long 
record  but  not  a  good  one. 

Dorus,  James;  32,  — ;  painter,  Holyoke;  Jan.  14,  '64; 
rejected  Jan.  22,  '64. 

Farland,  George;  26,  S.;  farmer,  Springfield;  Sept.  15,  '62; 
N.  F.  R. 

Goro,  Lewis;  34,  — ;  farmer,  Ware;  Feb.  25,  '64;  rejected, 
Feb.  28,  '64. 

Graham,  John,  Jr.;  23,  M.;  carpenter,  Huntington;  Oct. 
20,  '62;  N.  F.  R. 

Hoag,  W.  D.;  21,  — ;  —  — ,  Springfield;  June  14,  '61; 
desert.  July  12,  '61. 

Hogan,  William;  40,  — ;  farmer,  Charlestown;  Sept.  9,  '62; 
N.  F.  R. 

Kelly,  William;  29,  S.;  laborer,  Springfield;  Sept.  30,  '62; 
N.  F.  R. 

Kirk,  Henry  F.;  26,  M.;  artist,  Northampton;  Oct.  14,  '62, 
N.  F.  R. 

Moore,  John;  26,  S.;  painter,  Springfield;  Sept.  10,  '26; 
N.  F.  R. 

Newton,  John,  2d;  27,  S.;  farmer,  Gill;  Aug.  8,  '62;  dis. 
Jan.  24,  '63,  disa.;  Philadelphia. 

O'Connor,  Thomas;  34,  — ;  laborer,  Springfield;  Jan.  5,  '64; 
rejected,  Jan.  9,  '64. 

Preston,  Robert;    23,  S.;   druggist,  Dorchester;   May  18,  '64, 

cr.   Grafton;    trans.   June   20,    '64,   Co.   K,   37th   Mass.; 

probably  the  same  as  Robert  Preston,  Co.  F,  dis.  Sept. 

17,  '62,  disa. 
Ramsdell,  Horace;   25, — ;   farmer,  Cambridge;   Feb.  11,  '62; 

N.  F.  R. 
Scott,  Albert;    20,  S.;   currier,  Rowe;   Jan.  30,  '62;   went  on 

board  steamer  to  see  two  brothers  off  for  New  Orleans; 

the  vessel  started  with  him  on  board;   he  then  en.  in  Co. 

C,  31st  Mass.,  and  served  four  years. 

Slate,  Marshall  F.;    same  as  Clate,  vide  above. 


LAST  SCENE  OF  ALL  517 

Stiles,  Aaron  N.;  44,  — ;  farmer,  Hawley;  Jan.  7,  '64; 
rejected,  Jan.  17,  '64. 

Streeter,  Lorenzo;  20,  S.;  farmer,  Greenfield;  March  7,  '62; 
N.  F.  R. 

Williams,  Charles  F.;  18,  S.;  miller,  Norton  or  Newton; 
Aug.  11,  '62;  N.  F.  R. ;  the  same  name  is  found  in  Co.  H, 
7th  Mass.,  serving  to  expiration  of  enlistment. 

Williams,  John;  38,  — ;  farmer,  Ware;  Feb.  25,  '64;  re 
jected,  Feb.  29,  '64. 

Witherell,  David;  34,  — ;  lather,  Boston;  Sept.  10,  '62; 
N.  F.  R. 


"Last  scene  of  all  that  ends  this  strange 
eventful  history" 

Thursday,  April  22,  1909,  in  the  Executive  Chamber, 
Boston,  the  second  set  of  colors,  received  at  Warrenton,  in 
exchange  for  those  presented  by  the  ladies  of  Springfield, 
were  returned  to  the  keeping  of  the  Commonwealth.  Soon 
after  the  muster-out  of  the  regiment,  they  were  entrusted 
to  the  City  of  Northampton  by  Lieut.  Colonel  J.  B.  Parsons, 
and  for  more  than  forty  years  were  in  the  keeping  of  the  City, 
either  in  the  City  Hall  or  Library.  At  last  it  seeming  best 
that  they  should  stand  with  their  fellows  in  the  Hall  of  Flags 
at  the  State  House,  they  were  formally  presented  to  Governor 
Eben  F.  Draper  as  above.  The  address  of  presentation  was 
made  in  an  eloquent  manner  by  Past  Department  Commander 
John  W.  Hersey,  Co.  H,  who  was  accompanied  by  former 
Color  Serg't.  Adam  Swann  of  Co.  K,  J.  H.  Howard,  Co.  C, 
and  Capts.  Geo.  W.  Bigelow  and  Flavel  Shurtleff,  also  J.  H. 
Manning  of  Pittsfield,  an  honorary  member  of  the  Tenth 
Regiment  Veteran  Association. 

SPEECH  OF  COMMANDER  HERSEY 

"YOUR  EXCELLENCY  GOVERNOR  DRAPER: 

"I  count  myself  indeed  fortunate  that  I  am  permitted  to 
stand  here  to-day,  in  this  honorable  presence,  as  the  rep 
resentative  of  my  comrades  of  the  old  10th  Regiment  of 
Massachusetts  Volunteer  Infantry,  to  participate  with  a  few 
of  them  in  the  formal  presentation  and  the  turning  over  to 
you,  sir,  as  the  honored  chief  executive  of  the  Common- 


518  THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 

wealth  these  colors  of  our  old  regiment.  For  a  long  time  many 
of  us  have  entertained  the  hope  that  in  some  way  it  might 
be  brought  about  that  these  colors,  which  for  many  years 
have  been  in  the  care  and  keeping  of  the  good  people  of 
Northampton,  might  be  turned  over  to  the  Commonwealth 
here  to  find  a  final  resting  place  with  their  honored  associates, 
and  we  are  happy  in  the  thought  to-day,  that  through  the 
kindness  and  consideration  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the 
Public  Library  of  Northampton,  a  representative  of  whom 
is  present  here  in  the  person  of  Mr.  T.  G.  Spalding,  that  at 
last  cur  hopes  in  this  respect  are  about  to  be  realized. 

"These  colors,  sir,  were  carried  by  our  regiment  in  the  follow 
ing  battles:  Rappahannock  Station,  Mine  Fun,  Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania  Court  House,  Cold  Harbor,  North  Anna  and 
Petersburg,  and  I  am  pleased,  your  Excellency,  to  be  able  to 
report  to  you  to-day,  in  behalf  of  my  comrades  of  the  old 
regiment,  both  living  and  dead,  that  while  these  colors  were 
in  our  care  and  keeping,  they  were  never  disgraced  or  dis 
honored;  they  were  never  captured  or  taken  from  us;  they 
were  never  lowered  when  they  should  have  been  borne  aloft; 
they  were  never  in  the  rear  wrhen  they  should  have  been  at 
the  front;  and  that  they  were  never  furled,  when  they  should 
have  been  unfurled  and  thrown  to  the  breeze;  that  under 
their  folds  and  following  their  lead,  and  fighting  in  their 
defence,  hundreds  of  cur  comrades  sacrificed  and  suffered 
and  died  that  the  honor  and  integrity  of  the  old  Common 
wealth  might  be  maintained,  the  Union  preserved  and  the 
perpetuity  of  the  Republic  established. 

''And  we  are  especially  pleased,  as  we  turn  them  over  to  you, 
sir,  as  our  chief  executive,  and  through  you  to  the  State,  who 
gave  them  to  us  and  sent  us  forth  to  defend  them,  that  here 
in  the  place  prepared  for  them,  surrounded  by  that  glorious 
company  of  their  associates,  the  very  elect  of  the  old  Common 
wealth,  they  shall  find  a  final  resting  place;  henceforth  to 
serve  as  an  object  lesson  to  future  generations,  teaching  them 
lessons  of  patriotism,  loyalty,  self-sacrifice  and  devotion  to 
duty  which  those  who  bore  them  and  defended  them  and  died 
for  them  practised  so  well." 

Governor  Draper  received  the  colors  in  behalf  of  the 
Commonwealth  and  passed  them  over  to  Sergeant-at-arms 
D.  T.  Remington  who,  in  the  presence  of  the  regimental 
representatives,  deposited  them  in  the  glass  encased  alcove 
of  the  Hall  of  Flags.  These  are  the  colors  that  appear  in  the 
frontispiece  of  this  volume. 


TABLE   OF   AGGREGATES 


519 


1  - 

•"i*     2 

is 

-O-g                 9} 

g-|  : 

°  |             B  S                                  1 

t5  J             —  0                  .                   = 

-2"i 

£*         "S-C            5              3 



i-,"2 

5^__i^___|  ss_ 

FIELD  AND  STAFF,             22 

2                                      1 

Non-Com. 

Staff,                17 

1 

Band, 

24 

;       i         i 

COMPANY 

A. 

Officers, 

!        10 

i                                    2 

Men, 

117 

6                        5         21 

COMPANY 

B. 

I' 

Officers 

9 

2                         1            1 

Men, 

119 

10                        3         23 

COMPANY 

C, 

Officers, 

8 

1                                      2 

Men. 

124 

10            1            6         30 

COMPANY 

D. 

Officers, 

6 

3 

Men, 

115 

•15            2            1          27 

COMPANY 

E. 

i 

Officers, 

i         6 

3 

Men, 

108 

13                         3         31 

COMPANY 

F. 

Officers, 

7 

4 

Men, 

116 

10                         4          15 

COMPANY 

G. 

Officers, 

7 

1                                       2 

Men, 

122 

8            3            2          42 

COMPANY 

H. 

Officers, 

9 

2 

Men. 

139 

22                          4          44 

COMPANY 

I. 

Officers, 

6 

1                                        1 

Men, 

123 

16            1            9          51 

COMPANY 

K. 

Officers 

7 

1              '                       2 

Men, 

108 

12                        7         25 

Unassigned 

Recruits,                     28 

Totals 

1357 

130            7  ;       46       333 

37 


22 

19 

i 

11 
15 

28 
11 

8 
13 

5 


141 


3 

2 

55 


EXPLANATORY — Inasmuch  as  the  total  number  belonging  includes 
the  names  of  officers  and  men,  used  more  than  once,  in  some  cases  as 
many  as  rive  times,  also  those  of  Unassigned  Recruits  who  in  no  way  con 
tributed  to  the  story  of  the  regiment,  this  total  should  be  lessened  by 
124,  thus  bringing  the  true  aggregate  to  1233. 

The  total  of  333  wounded  does  not  mean  that  number  of  men  re 
ceived  wounds  other  than  mortal,  but  that  so  many  wounds  were 
inflicted  in  different  battles,  one  man  being  hit  in  no  less  than  four 
engagements,  others  three  times,  etc. 


520 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


INDEX 


In  consulting  the  following  index,  attention  is  called  to  certain 
items.  Small  capitals  indicate  divisions  of  the  narrative.  Letters 
and  reports  are  given  chronologically,  while  portraits,  of  which  there 
are  one  hundred  and  seventy-eight,  are  printed  alphabetically. 
Where  several  regiments  from  different  states  are  given,  the  full-faced 
numerals  refer  to  the  number  of  the  regiment,  others  to  the  pages. 


Abbott,  H.  M.,  323. 
Abbott,  J.  H.,  268,  385. 
Abbott,  Wm.  F.,  320 
Aborn,  J.,  162. 
Abrams,  Thos.,  503. 
Adams,  298. 
Adams,  Chas.,  403. 
Adams,  Chas.  E.,  264,  416. 
Adams,  H.  S.,  430. 
Adams,  John  C.,  430. 
Adams,  John  Q.,  23,  232. 
Adams,    Wm.    H.,    58,    324, 

448,  459. 

Aggregates,  Table  of,  519. 
Aiken,  William  N.,  121,  416. 
Alexander,     Mayor     Henry, 

294. 

Alexander,  L.  P.,  448. 
Alexandria,  30,  133,  240. 
ALEXANDRIA,  133. 
Allen,  Chas.  E.,  486. 
Allen,  E.  A.,  430. 
Allen,  G.  W.,  403. 
Allen,  S.  W.,  403. 
Allen,  T.  H.,  12. 
Allen,  Wm.  B.,  342,  385. 
Allen  Guards,  7,  10. 
Allen's  Farm,  114. 
Allis,  John  D.,  122,  465. 
Allotment  Commission,  67. 
Amidon,  L.  F.,  103,  367. 
Amidon,  S.  H.,  448. 
Anderson,  Geo.  W.,  5,  416, 

420. 
Andrew,  Governor,  8,  9,  19; 

Visits  Bright  wood,  44,  46; 

124,    152,    194,    217,    299. 
Andrews,  R.  K.,  352. 
Andrews,  Sam'l,  23. 
Anderson's      Brigade,      117, 

118. 

Anthony,  Henry,  503. 
ANTIETAM,  136. 


April  Fool's  Day,  251. 

Aquia  Creek,  29,  66. 

Arbuckle,    Fred,    121,    403. 

Ariel,  (Steamer)  66. 

Armstrong,  D.  E.,  188,  448. 

Armstrong,  Jas.,  417. 

Army  Corps  Badges,  170. 
j  Arnold,  Lieut.,  298. 
i  Arnold,  Wm.,  448. 
|  Arthur,  Mrs.  Chas.,  47* 
I  Ash,  Patrick,  486. 
I  Ashby's  Gap,  214. 
!  Ashley,  H.  B.,  486. 

Ashley,   Wm.    A.,   242,    257, 
264,    404,    485,    486. 

Ashman,  John,  352. 

Atherton,  R.  L.,  103,  448. 

Atherton,  Wm.  B.,  103,448. 

Atkins,  Geo.  A.,  503. 

Atkins,  Wm.  H.,  122,  486. 

Atkinson,  Wm.,  487. 

Atwood,  C.  H.,  103,  386. 

Atwood,  J.  E.,  103,  324,  367. 
j  Atwood,  Philip,  448,  515. 
j  Aufort,  Geo.  E.,  504. 

Auger,  V.  J.,  465. 

Austin,  C.  L.,  465,  475. 

Austin,  J.  E.,  104,  265,  466, 
478. 

Averill,  Gen.  J.  T.,  118,  127, 
173. 

Averill,     L.    T.,     268,     431, 
442. 

Avery,  John,  466,  468. 

Ayers,  Gen.  R.  B.,  174. 

Babcock,  L.  F.,  48,  430. 

Babcock,  Wm.  N.,  403. 

Bachelder,  Col.  J.  B.,  320. 

Bacon,  J.  M.,  22,  351. 

Bacon,  Jas.  E.,  504. 

Bacon,  John  H.,  403. 

Badges,  Army  Corps,  170. 

Bagg,  Chas.  H.,  487. 


Baggage  wagons  turned  in, 

41. 

Bailey,  Geo.  E.,  403. 
Baldwin,  G.  W.,  162. 
Baldwin,  Jas.,  488. 
Baldwin,  W.  A.,  265. 
Ball,  John  D.,  417. 
Ball,  N.  O.,  268,  386. 
Baltimore  Cross  Roads,  83. 
Baltz,  J.  H.,  286,  449. 
Balloon  Corps,  201. 
Balloon  experience,  174. 
Ball's  Bluff,  44,  203. 
Ball's  Cross  Roads,  134. ' 
Band   arrives,    18;     at    Fair 

Oaks,  95;  goes  home,  128; 

rearrives,  246:  roster,  343. 
Banker,  Henry,  188,  352. 
|  Banks,  Gen'I.  N.  P.,  8,  60. 
Banks's  Ford,  191,  192. 
Bannerot,  C.  E.,  188,  386. 
Barber,  Geo.  A.,  188,  352. 
Barber,  H.  L.,  343,  352. 
Bard,  Peter,  54,  466. 
Barden,  H.  M.,  504. 
Barden,  Mar.,  104,  504. 
Bardwell,  C.  L.,  386. 
Bardwell,  F.  D.,  265,  466. 
Bardwell,  Guy,  268,  403. 
Barksdale,  Gen.,  189. 
Barnard,  M.  C.,  432. 
Barnes,  Albert,  488. 
Barnes,  Col.  Jas.,  51. 
Barnes,  Mrs.  Jas.,  19,  20. 
Barnett's  Ford,  245. 
Barry,  John,   104,   187,   188, 

488. 

Barrack  Building,  47. 
Barrett,  Benton,  387. 
Barrett,  Wm.  T.,  144. 
Barrows,  W.  R.,  387. 
Barten,  Rev.  Mr.,  217. 
Bartholomew,  M.,  352. 


INDEX 


521 


Bartlett,  A.  T.,  432. 
Bartlett,  E.  B.,  242,  271, 

341,  366,  367,  432. 
Bartlett,    Gen.    J.     B.,    212, 

213. 
Bartlett,  J.  F.,  265,  324,  466, 

481. 

Barton,  D.  M.,  264,  417. 
Barton,    Fred,    10,    11,    22, 

24,  112,  119,  173,  207,228, 

296,  415,  485. 
Barton,  F.  A.,  22,  33,  42,  46, 

228,  340. 

Barton,  Mrs.  F.  A.,  48. 
Barton,  H.  B.,  264,  417. 
Base-ball,  177,  252,  253. 
Bassett,  Almon,  403. 
Bassett,  D.  E.,  188,  417. 
Bates,  Alonzo,  104,  467. 
Bates,  H.  C.,  189,  504. 
Bates,  Stephen,  504. 
"Battle  Summer,"  253. 
Battles,     Williamsburg,     77; 

Fair  Oaks  or  Seven  Pines, 

87;      Malvern     Hill,     117; 

Antietam,      136;     Freder- 

icksburg,       154;        Salem 

Heights,  184;  Gettysbure, 

206;       Rapoahannock 

Station,   226;    Mine  Run, 

234;        Wilderness,       253; 

Spottsylvania,  261;    Cold 

Harbir,  283. 
Baynes,  L.  D.,  504. 
Bazzell,  V.,  352. 
Beach,  M.  B.,  264,  353. 
Bean,  H.  K.,  103,  488. 
Beans  for  rations,  230. 
Beaumont,   J.   J.,    189,   504, 

508. 

Belchertown,  297. 
Belle  Plain,  153. 
Bemis,  O.  R.,  505. 
Bemis,  Major  S.  C.,  12,  17, 

21. 

Bemis,  Wm.  H.,  268,  467. 
Bennett,  Geo.  S.,  103,  449. 
Bennett,  J.  H.,  22,  139,  464, 

485. 

Benson,  Chas.,  387. 
Bercume,  Silas,  505. 
Berdan's  Sharpshooters, 

197,  198. 
Berlin,  146,  213. 
Bermuda  Hundred,  289. 


Bernard  House,  197,  198. 

Berry,  John,  102,  367. 

Best,  Robert,   104,  272,  488. 

Beugless,  Chap.  J.  D.,  244, 
250. 

Beverege,  Lieut.,  188. 

Bidgood,   Abram,    121,   403. 

Bidwell,  Gen.  D.  D.,  275. 

Bigelow,  C.  H.,  387. 

Bigelow,  Edmund,  47,  173. 

Bigelow,  G.  W.,  22,  90,  209, 
217,  218,  244,  271,  272, 
430,  503. 

Bigelow,  J.  W.,  14,  104,  137, 
465,  467. 

Billings,  G.  W.,  417,  420. 

Bingham,  Rev.  A.  J.,  128, 
142,  166,  340. 

Birnie,  Wm.,  152,  164. 

Bishop,  D.  J.,  353. 

Bishop,  W.  I.,  103,  246,  264, 
274,  282,  351,  385,  386, 
387. 

Black,  Levi  W.,  264,  417, 
418. 

Black,  Lewis  T.,  264,  417. 

Blair,  F.  P.,  Sr.,  32,  45,  64. 

Blair,  Montgomery,  44,  46, 64 

Blais,  N.  P.  A.,  126,  367. 

Blake,  Jas.  W.,  432. 

Blake,  Rev.,  297. 

Blakesley,  Chas.,  353. 

Blackwell,  L.  M.,  467. 

Blankets  from  Indian  Or 
chard,  46;  from  Spring 
field,  46;  from  Holyoke, 
47. 

Blinn,  N.  O.,  54,  367. 

Bliss,  Chas.,  432. 

Bliss,  Geo.  S.,  387. 

Bliss,  Sarah  M.,  20. 

Bliss,  Zeba  F.,  320. 

Blodgett,  C.  G.,  188,  449. 

Blodgett,  J.  L.,  467. 

"Bloody  Angle,"  275. 

Blossom,  H.  G.,  367. 

Blossom,  J.  W.,  368. 

Bodman,  Artemas,  449. 

Bodman,  S.  C.,  262,  418. 

Boise,  F.  E.,  54,  387. 

Bolander,  Thos.  Jr.,  403. 

Bolster,  G.  W.,  368. 

Bolter,  P.  C.,  264,  404. 

Bolton,  L.  M.,  432. 

Boonsborough,  212,  213. 


Bosquet,  Phil.,  449. 

Boston,  28. 

Boswell,  D.  A.,  467. 

Bottom's  Bridge,  85. 

Botts,  J.  M.,  232,  239,  247. 

Bowen,  Jas.  L.,  320,  323. 

Bowers,  C.  B.,  64. 

Bowles,  B.  F.,  44. 

Bowles,  R.  S.,  244. 

Bowles,  R.  W.,      174,      342, 

418. 

i  Bowles,  Sam'l,  144,  164. 
:  Bowling  Green  Road,       183, 

280. 

JBoyden,  C.  O.,  122,  432. 
j  Boyington,  H.  J.,    187,    188, 

488. 

|  Boyle,  John,  54,  368. 
|  Boynes,  David,  505. 
;  Boyste,  Henry,  404. 

Brackett,  H.  W.,  467. 

Bradford,  A.  F.,  488. 
I  Brady,  B.  F.,  54,  432. 
\  Brady,  S.  H.,  488. 

Bradley,  O.  S.,  121,  404. 
I  Bradley,  Wm.  H.,  488. 
iBraman,  J.  H.,  93,  102,  387. 

Brandy  Station,  232,  235. 
:  BRANDY  STATION,  239,  249. 
I  Breck,  Dr.  Wm.  G.,  45. 

Brentsville,  225. 
j  Brew,  Michael,  103,  387. 
|  Brewer,  A.  C.,  268,  404. 
JBrewster,    C.    H.,    188,   209, 
231,    241,    246,    275,    324; 
326,   385,   387. 
JBreyer,  F.  L.,  405. 
j  Brick,  Edward,  122,  488. 
I  Brick,  Maurice,  488. 
!  Bridgman,  J.  C.,  64. 
JBridgman,  S.  C.,  64. 
!  Brigade  Band,  246. 

Brigaded,  32. 
|  Brigade  Relations,  317. 
!  Brigade  Beview,  45. 
j  Briggs,  A.  D.,  37. 

Briggs,  A.  J.,  102,  449. 
1  Briggs,  E.  M.,  102,  467,468. 
|  Briggs,  G.  C.,  368. 
;  Briggs,  Ex.  Gov.  G.  N.,  27, 
38. 

Briggs,  Col.  H.  S.,  10,  11,  15, 
17,  19,  20,  22,  23,  38,  40, 
46,  49,  50,  53,  54,  56,  62, 
76,  91,  94,  97,  98,  100 


522 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


101,  103,  105,  122,  124 
170,  213,  300,  301,  304 
324,  325,  333. 

Briggs,  Mrs.  H.  S.,  48. 

Briggs  Memorial,  304. 

Briggs,  P.  H.,  467,  483. 

Briggs,  Wm.  E.,  264,  368. 

Brigham,  Elijah,  468. 

BRIGHTWOOI>,  32,  62. 

Briner,  Hiram,  353. 

Bringolf,  Jacob,  104,  468. 

Bringolf,  John,  468. 

Bristoe  Station,      225,     227 
228. 

Bristol,  F.,  12. 

Bristol,  W.  D.,  353. 

British  Officers,  233. 

Britt,  Pat.,  432. 

Brooks,  Geo.,  505. 

Brooks,  H.  F.,  36,  450,  453 

Brooks,  J.  P.,    15,    488. 

Brooks,  L.  W.,  102,  368. 

Brooks,  Gen.  W.  T.  H.,  190, 
192,   196,  284,  338. 

Brown,  Col.  A.  G.,  162. 

Brown,  H.  A.,  351,  387,  503. 

Brown,  Thos.,  489. 

Brown,  Tim.,  405. 

Brown,    Wm.    H.,   318,   320, 

368,  375. 
Browne,  Col.   Wm.   H.,   160, 

172,  186,  192,  195. 
Browning,  C.  D.,  468. 
Buckingham,  Gen.  C.  P., 

149. 

Buddington,    B.    M.,    469. 
Buddington,  Rev.  W.  1.,  252. 
Buell,  C.  E.,  418. 
Buell,  Gen.  D.  C.,  38,  41,  44, 

45,  53. 

Bugbee,  S.  A.,  104,  489. 
Bullard,  A.  B.,  505. 
Bullard,  J.  S.,  50. 
Bullard,  W.  H.,  388. 
Bunker  Hill  Day,  12,  109. 
Burbank,  J.  H.,  188,  432. 
Burbank,  Sam.,  268,  405. 
Burby,  H.  C.,  121,  388. 
Burke,  Thos.  F.,  121,  433. 
Burnap,  E.  C.,  368. 
Burnett,  Chas.,  515. 
Burnham,  D.  R.,  450. 
Burnham,  E.  D.,  450. 
Burnham,  F.,  368. 
Burnham,  Geo.,  326,  489. 


Burnham,  Col.  H.,  184. 
Burnham,  T.  W.,  450. 
Burns,  James,  450. 
Burns,  John,  268,  405. 
Burns,  Reuben,  515. 
Burns,  Robert,      103,      104, 

450. 
Burnside,   Gen.    A.    E.,    146, 

149,   154,   167,   189. 
Burnside's  Corps,  256,  270. 
Burr,  Jas.  W.,  489. 
Bush,  Sheriff,  17. 
Butler,  Gen.  B.  F.,  221,  244. 
Cady,  Henry,  353. 
Cadwell,  F.  E.,  419. 
Cahill,  F.  H.,  265,  489. 
Cahill,    Jas.,    188,    353. 
Cahill,  Thos.,  419. 
Caine,  Anth.,  187,  188,  489. 
Caldwell,  N.  N.,  353. 
Calhoun,    Ex.    Mayor,    17. 
Callaghan,  John,  515. 
Callahan,    Pat.,    405. 
Cameron,  Simon,  60. 
Campbell,  Andrew,  15. 
Campbell,  John,  405. 
Campbell,  J.  R.,  264,  469. 
Camp  Adams,  24. 

"       McClellan,  24. 

"       Mutton,  148. 
Smith,  67. 

"       Winfield  Scott,  74. 
^amp   Groups,   Bright  wood, 

36. 
'Campaign  of  Manoeuvres," 

227 
Camp     Scene,     Brightwood, 

34. 
Caneda,  Philo,  368. 

iannon,    H.    B.,   450. 
Capital  Bakery,  35. 
Caps  for  hats,   43. 
Card,  M.  V.,  265,  486,  490. 
Cardney,    F.,    268,   353. 
Uarey,  John,  121,  405. 
Carle,  Thos.,  368. 
Carlton,  G.   W.,  353. 
Carney,  Thos.,  505. 
Carpenter,  And.,  419. 
Carpenter,  Geo..  103,  368. 
Carpenter,  W.  W.,  104,  465, 

469. 

Carroll,  Thos.,  515. 
Carter,    I,.   C.,   51,   505. 
barter,  Nelson,  122,  469. 


Casey,    John    E.,    189,    265, 

'  490. 

Casey,    Maurice,   490. 
Casey,  Gen.  Silas,  85,  86,  87, 

88,  90,  97. 

I  Cassidy,  Jas.,  264,  405. 
jCaswell,  H.  K.,  505. 
JCate,  T.  J.,  35. 
iCatlett's  Station,    151,    225. 
JGatoctin,  211. 
iCavanaugh,    J.    H.,    369. 
|  Centerville,  202,  228. 
.!  Chad  wick,  R.    L.,    264,    353. 
!  Chain  Bridge,  134,  135. 
Chamberlain,  C.   N.,   22,  39, 

40,  49,  80,  108,  338. 
Chamberlain,  S.  T.,  505. 
I  Chambersburg,  203. 

JCHANCELLORSVILLE,     179. 

'  Chancellorsville,     184,     191, 

199,  236. 

i  Chandler,  A.,   469.   471. 
Chantilly,  134. 
;  Chapel,  New,  243. 
Chapin,  Chas.  O.,    17,   64. 
Chapin,   H.   M.,    188,   433. 
Chapman,    D.    M.,    320. 
i  Chapman,  Judge,   17. 
Charles,  John,  369. 
i  Charles  City,  C.  H.,  129,  288. 
Charlottesville,  248. 
Chase,  D.  M.,    15,    22,    109, 

125,    177,   503. 
1  Chase,  E.  A.,  344. 
Chase,  J.  B.,   263,   264,   419. 
i  Chauncey,  Capt.  John,    271. 
Cheney,  Geo.  F.,  450. 
Cheney,  Geo.  S.,  296. 
Cheesbro,  A.,  369. 
Cheeseman,  U.  H.,  450. 
Cherry  Run  Ford,  144,  145. 
Chesapeake  Bay.  29. 
Chester  Gap,  215. 
i  CHICKAHOMINY,  106. 
|  Chickahominy,    83,    84,    88, 

129. 

iChilds,  F.  J.,  342. 
'Christmas,  240. 
;  Churchill,  Wm.  M.,  450. 
Church  organized,  253. 
Cider,  New,  sweet,  141. 
Clapp,  C.  A.,  450. 
Clapp,  T.  W.,  22,  25,  58,  139, 

402. 
Clapp,  Wm.  H.,  353. 


INDEX 


523 


Clark,  Mrs.,  127,  128. 
Clark,  A.  B.,   268,   469,  471. 
Clark,  A.  S.,  388. 
Clark,  Enoch,  265,  490. 
Clark,  F.  L.,  344. 
Clark,  F.  W.,    121,   388. 
Clark,  G.  C.,  353. 
Clark,  Geo.  E.,  505. 
Clark,  H.  C.,  419. 
Clark,  J.  C.,  268,  388. 
Clark,  J.  P.,  388. 
Clark,  J.  W.,  433,  438. 
Clark,  L.  H.,  419. 
Clark,  M.  H.,  103,  433. 
Clark,  iSteph.,  405. 
Clark,  W.  W.,  122,  505. 
('late,    Marshall,    515. 
Clay,    Birthplace   of    Henry, 

282. 

Clear  Springs,  143,  145. 
Clegg,  Hiram,  369. 
Clemence,  Jos.,  505. 
Clifford,  J.  H.,    22,    25,    484. 
Clough,  Edgar,  264,  419. 
Cobb,  Gen.  Howell,  83,  135. 
Cohurn,  J.  P.,  268,  324,  388. 

391. 

Cochrane.  C.  W.,  490. 
Cochrane's  Brigade,  156. 
Coddington,  J.,  354. 
Coggin's  Point,  126. 
Colhurn,  C.  D.,  354. 
COLD   HARBOR,  283. 
Cole,  Cyrus,  433. 
Cole,  J.  W.,  369. 
Coleman,  P.  M.,   102,  388. 
Coleman,  J.  S.,  469. 
Collamer.  E.,  405. 
Collier,   Anson   I.,    122,    189, 

505. 

Collis,  R.  S.,   121,  405. 
Colt,  Col.  J.  D.,  17. 
Colt,  T.  G.,  405. 
Colton,  X.  W.,  433. 
Conant,  E.  P.,  268,  469. 
Cone,  C.  B.,  469. 
Cone,  W.  F.,  122.  264,  469. 
Congregationalist,  46. 
Connecticut  Troops,      1st. 

H.  Arty.,  156. 
Conner,  Geo.,  86,  104,  490. 
Conners,  Jas.,  268,  469. 
Converse,  D.,  388. 
Converse,  H.  M.,     244,    268, 

322,  385,  491,  497. 


Conway,  Wm.,  506. 

Cook,  A.  H.,  506. 
'Cook,  A.  S.,  491. 
!  Cook,  B.  O.,  450. 
!  Conway,  Wm.,  506. 
;Cook,  A.  H.,  506. 

Cook,  A.  S.,  491. 

Cook,  B.  O.,  450. 

Cook,  Geo.,  354. 

Cook,  J.  H.,  388. 
I  Cook,  S.  B.,  268,  405. 
[Coolidge,  Edward,  103,  450. 
•Cooley,  O.  B.,  433. 
Icoomes,  Eli  as,  102,  433. 

Coomes,  E.  P.,  268,  433. 
iCooney,  John,  506. 

Cooper,  F.  A.,  369. 

Cooper,  H.  W.,  388. 

Cooper  Shop,  292. 
j  Copley,  Henry  L.,  54,  506. 
'Copley,  Hiram  H.,  506. 
iCorkery,  M.  B.,  265,  491. 
iCormick,  J.,   188,  287,  354. 

Corn    captured,  282. 

Cornwell,  N.  S.,      264,     324 

388. 
i  Corps  Relations,  319. 

Cotrell,  M.  H.,  103,  244,  272 

402,  404,  405. 
i  Cot  ton,  S.  B.,    13,    369. 

Couch,  A.  F.,  188,  354. 

Couch,  Gen.  I).  N.,  32,  37 
46,  61,  e:i,  87,  88,  89.  90 
97,  99,  101,  104,  124,  150 
181,  299. 

Cousens,  G.  W.,  264,  406. 
jCousens,  Win.   H.,  286,  366 

371. 
iCrampton's  Gap,  213. 

Cranp  H.  E.,  139,  159.  430 
433. 

Crawford.  Elmer,  419. 

Crawford,  Sam.,  268,  419. 
|  Crockett,  F.  H.,  189,  491. 
|  Cromwell,  L.  F.,  491. 
iCronin,  Daniel,  491. 

Crosby,  Isaiah,  122,  506. 
I  Cross,  C.  W.,  320. 
iCrossett,  Fred,  406. 
jCrow,  Andrew,  389. 

Crump's  Creek,  282. 

Crump  Cross  Roads,  83. 
ICudney,  F.,  354. 
Mullen,  W.  B.,  516. 
i  Culpeper,  233,   247,   251. 


;  Culpeper  Ct.  House,  199,  223. 
Culpeper  Ford,  235,  239. 
!  Cummings,  Lee,  264,  354. 
JCummings,  O.,  354. 
Cumminsky,  Jas.,  369. 
|  Currier,  J.  H.,  516. 

Currier,  J.  W.,  177,  433. 

Curry,  Jas.,  406. 

Curtis,  J.  H.,  470. 

Curtis,  O.,  354. 
:Cushman,  J.  A.,     285,     354, 
355. 

Custer's  Cavalry,  247. 
'Cutler,  C.  D.,  93,  102,  470. 
I  Cutler,  J.  W.,  214,  434. 
!  Cutting,  O.  E.,  284,  354. 

Dahlgren's  Raid,  247. 

Dailey,  Jas.  N.,  491. 

Daily,  J.  C.,  406. 
|  Daily,  L.  L.,  103,  434. 

Dalton,  Jas.,  406.. 

Damon,  S.  C.,  434,  438. 
iDana,  Jas.  J.,  132. 

Daniels,  G.  C.,  355. 
•   Daniels,  G.  H.,  419. 
|  Daniels,  H.,  389. 
1  Daniel    Webster    (Steamer), 
,       64. 
!  Darby,  W.   F.,  5,   209,  343, 

369,   370,   485. 
JDaufen,  Henry,    122,   470. 
.Davis,  A.  S.,  344. 
/Davis,  C.  H.,  389. 
.  Davis,  Geo.  T.,  17. 

Davis,  H.  R.,  268,  406. 

Davis,  N.  H.,  125. 
I  Dawley,  F.  J.,  355. 

Day,  Chas.  H.,  264,  420. 
|  Day,  E.  E.,  6,  22,  25,  39,  92, 
95,    100,    102,   299,   447. 

Day,  Mrs.  E.  E.,  48,  53. 

Day,  J.  P.,  470. 

Day,  John,  264. 

Day,  John  T.,  420. 

Day,  Lawrence,     122,    506. 

Day,  Lewis,  389. 

Day,  Wm.  H.,  208,  434 
|  Dead y,  Edward,  491. 

Decie,  C.  H.,  122,  189,  265, 
491. 

Decker,  J.  A.,  492. 
j  Decker,  J.  M.,  6,   7,    11,    17, 

22,  54,  91,  95,  125,  335. 
!  De  Ford,    Ben.,     (Steamer), 
26,  28,  30. 


524 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


Dempsey,  J.,  355. 

Dennia,  E.,  355. 

Dennis,  L.,  188,  355. 

Deon,  Major,  369. 

DEPARTMENT  COMMANDERS, 
319. 

DEPARTURE  AND  NEW  OFFI 
CERS,  131. 

Desmond,  Rich.,  492. 

Devens,  Gen.  Chas.,  76,  97, 
105,  109,  125,  131,  140, 
141,  142,  150,  156,  160, 
162.  174,  177,  178,  189, 
285. 

Dewey,  E.  S.,  214,  450. 

Dewey,  F.  W.,  451. 

Dewey,  Henry,  188,  451. 

Dickinson,  Henry,  451. 

Dinneen,  Jas.,  189,  268,  506, 

Division  Drill,  44. 

Division  Relations,  319. 

Dix,  Gen.  John  A.,  216. 

"Dixie,"  182. 

Dobyns,  Thos.,  287,  420. 

Dodge,  C.  S.,  121,  389. 

Dodge,  H.  N.,  264,  451. 

Dodge,  P.  M.,  451. 

Doherty,  Mich.,  470. 

Dole,  C.  B.,  268,  470. 

Donahue,  Jas.,  420. 

Donelson,  Fort,  54,  55. 

Donovan,  John  (A),  34,  52, 
355. 

Donovan,  John,  (D),  188, 
406. 

Dorus,  Jas.,  516. 

Dory,  Geo.  W.,  492,  501. 

Doubleday,  Gen.  Abner,  176. 

DOWNSVILLE,  141. 

Downsville,  138,  143,  145, 
146. 

Drake,  C.  H.,  318,  320. 

Drake,  C.  F.,  265,  470,  472. 

Draper,  L.,  389. 

Draw  Clothing,  229. 

Dresser,  Geo.  N.,  434. 

Dresser,  Wm.  O.,  470. 

Drummond,  Rev.,  11,  17. 

Drunken  Surgeon,  260 

Dudley,  Chas.,  406. 

Duffee,  Thos.,  268,  406. 

Dumfries,  200. 

Dunbar,  Chas.,  188,  406. 

Duncan,  E.  W.,  470. 

Duncan,  Geo.  H.,  434. 


Dunn,  John,  420. 

Dunnakin,  C.,  389. 

Dunnakin,  H.  A.,  389. 

Dunphy,  E.,  188,  264,  420. 

Dwyer,  Jas.,  369. 

Earle,  Wm.  W.,  434. 

Early,  Gen.  Jubal,  64,  266. 

I  Eason,  T.  W.,  470. 

Eaton,  L.  O.,  5,  112,  177 
257,  264,  430,  431,  434. 

Eaton,  Wm.  H.,  492. 

JEccleston,  Lieut.,  101. 

Eddy,  Rev.  Dr.,  42. 

Edwards,  Capt.,  218,  222. 

Edwards,  C.  S.,  389. 

Edwards,  L.  R.,  471. 

Edwards,  Oliver,  10,  17,  21 
22,  45,  105,  142,  146,  148 
160,  194,  247,  263,  273 
337. 

Edwards,  Wm.  B.,  104,  492. 

Edward's  Ferry,  203. 

Eldridge,  S.  N.,  264,  369, 
416,  418. 

Ellis,  Chester  S.,  122,  435. 

Ellis,  Geo.,  268,  421. 

Ellison's  Mills,  113. 

Elmer,  Levi,  390. 

Ellsworth,  Col.  E.  E.,  30. 

Ely,  Mrs.  J.,  47. 

Ely,  Wm.,  390. 
|  Ely's  Ford,  180,  254. 

Emancipation  Proclamation, 
163. 

Emerson,  J.  S.,  268,  471. 

Emmitsburg,  211. 

Emmons,  Monroe,  406. 

Endicott,  L.  F.,  390. 

Enfield  Rifle,  16,  18,  119. 

Ennis,  D.  D.,  435. 

EN  ROUTE,  29. 

Equipments,  16,  25. 

Estee,  S.  T.,  103,  370. 

Estes,  Wm.  H.,  103,  492, 
497. 

Eustis,  Col.  H.  L.,  6,  133, 
134,  138,  140,  149,  152, 
160,  170,  176,  186,  188, 
192,  206,  223,  224,  233, 
243,  244,  246,  247,  257, 
263,  273,  333,  334. 

Eustis's  Brigade,  207. 

Evans,  C.  W.,  390. 

Evans,  Geo.,  121,  421. 

Evans,  M.  W.,  341,  506,  511. 


Evening     Prayers,     Bright- 
wood,  52. 

Ewell's  Corps,  199,  234,  266. 
Excelsior  Brigade,  86. 
Express  from  home,  143. 
Fairchilds,    C.,    121,    406. 
|  Fairfax  Ct.  House,  134,  201. 
[Fairfax  Seminary,   134. 
,|  Fairfax  Station,  201,  228. 
jFairfield,  211. 
I  FAIR  OAKS,  86. 
I  Fair  View,  143. 
|  Falling  Waters,  243. 
!  FALMOUTH,  195. 
Falmouth,  159,  163,  200. 
Falvey,  John,  492. 
Famous   dispatch,    265. 
,1  Fargo,  A.  F.,  324,  355. 
jFarland,  Geo.,  516. 
I  Fast  Day,  National,  40. 
.JFay,  Rev.,  297. 
'{ Fay,  E.  W.,  102,  471. 
Ferry,  H.  L.,  492. 
Felton,  Sam.,  390. 
Field.  A.  A.,  451. 
I  Field,  G.  W.,  471. 
iFiero,  F.  L.,  406. 
Finn,  M.,  355. 

j  Finnican,  Jas.,  188,  264,  407. 
First    Army    Corps   Merged, 

251. 

Fitz  Hugh  family,  176. 
|  Flag    presentation,    19. 
Flags,  Return  of,  299,  517. 
Flanagan,  Pat.,  492. 
I  Flood's  Battery,  101. 
Fogg,  Lucien,  43,  268,  471. 
Foot   Cavalry,    (6th  Corps), 

206. 

Forced  March,  205. 
Fort    Darling,    109;     Ethan 
Allen,  59,  135;    Magruder, 
80;    Marcy,  59,  62;    Mass 
achusetts,    64;       Slocum, 
41;    Stevens,   64,  66. 
Fortress  Monroe,  66. 
Foster,  F.  A.,  421,  425. 
Foster,  W.  A.  P.,    103,    390. 
Fowle,  John,  421. 
Fowler,  S.  J.,  506. 
Fox,  Wm.  F.,  4. 
Front  Royal,  200. 
Frain,  Hugh,  421. 
Franklin,  J.    A.,    268,    471, 
481. 


INDEX 


525 


Franklin,    Gen.    W.    B.,    78, 

88,     115,     141,    142,     155, 

109. 
Franklin's      Crossing,      180, 

183,  196. 
Frederick,  211. 
FREDERICKSBURG,  154. 
Fredericksburg,  66,  151,  181, 

183,    191,    197,    198,    238, 

269. 

Freed,  Hiram,  506. 
French,  C.  P.,  356. 
French,  H.  O.,  421. 
French,  M.  C.,  103,  451. 
Fried  Cakes,  53. 
Frishie,  Cassander,  492. 
Fughery,  C.,  356. 
Fuller,  B.  F.,  471. 
Fuller,  H.  H.,  264,  370. 
Fulton,  A.  W.,  370. 
Funkstown,  212,  213. 
Funeral  in  Camp,  First,  38. 
Furloughs,  245. 
Furrow,  Geo.  F.,  506. 
Furrow,  Henry,  507. 
Gaddes,  Jos.,  122,  265,  507. 
Gaffney,  John,  343,  370,  421. 
Gage,    F.    W.,     370. 
Games'  Mills,  113. 
Gainsville,  228. 
Galligan,  Peter,  264.  370. 
Gardner,   Edward,   102,  407. 
Gardner,  N.  A.,  353,  447. 
Gardner,    N.    H.,    274,    275, 

352,  447,  507. 
Gardner,   R.   S.,   451. 
Garibaldi  Guards,  202. 
Garland,  Geo.  P.,  264,  451. 
Gassner,  Geo.  Jr.,  421,  425. 
Gassner,  J.  C.,  421. 
Gates,  Chas.  A.,  298,  356. 
Gates,  Emory  B.,  435. 
Gaylord,  Jas.,  507. 
Gaynard,  Thos.  H.,  103,  435. 
Gaynor,    Thos.,    507. 
Geary,  H.  L.,  492. 
Geer,  Geo.  P.,  46. 
Germanna    Ford,    180,    235, 

254. 
"General"    Discouragement, 

163. 

Georgia  Troops,  31st.,  175. 
Getty,  Gen.  G.  W.,  251,  257, 

259,  275. 
GETTYSBURG,  206. 


;  Gettysburg,    199,   208. 

I  Gettsyburg  Monument,  320. 

j  Gibbon,  Gen.  John,  183,  189. 

Gibson,  Thos.,  421. 

Gilbert,  Wm.  E.,  471. 

Gilligan,  O.  J.,  264,  451. 

Gilman,  F.,  103,  452. 
i  Gilman,  J.  H.,  209,  340. 

Gilmore,  C.  A.,  343,  356. 
JGilmore,  H.  G,.  5,  209,  218, 
267,    404,    430,    435,    485. 

Gilmore,   Wm.   S.,   435. 
|Ginn,  John  N.,  507. 

Gleason,  Chas.  F.,  435. 
j  Gleason,  T.  S.,  102,  435. 
jGoddard,  L.  W.,  22,  366. 
I  Goddard,  P.  M.,  356. 
j  Goff,  John  B.,  435. 

Goldthwaite,  Ida,  108. 

Gonzales,  Man.,  507. 

Goodale,  C.  T.,  121,  407. 
i  Goodale,  H.  W.,  435. 

Goodrich,  F.  M.,  390. 
i  Goodrich,  John,  356. 
;  Gordon,  Gen.  J.  B.,  278. 
|  Gordon,  Thos.,  390. 
iGorham,  H.  H.,     122,     265, 

507. 
|  Gorman,  H.  L.,  103,  435. 

Gorman,  Mich.,  264,  471. 

Goro,  Lewis,  516. 
|  Goss,  Walter  S.,  206. 
1  Gowdy,  Chauncey,  286,  452. 

Gragg,  Wm.  H.,  471. 

Graham,  John,  507,  516. 

Grand  Army  Posts,  299. 
!  Grand  Review,  252. 

Grant,   Gen.   U.  S.,  54,  210, 
238,  249,  250,  260. 

Graves,  E.  H.,  265,  342,  385, 

390,  503. 
|  Graves,  H.  W.,  421. 

Graves,  Sam.,  390. 
{Gray,  Henry  W.,  435. 

Gray,  Lyman  E.,  435. 

Great  Barrington,   297,   347. 

Greek  Cross,  189,  190. 
|  Green,  C.  E.,  36,  449,  452. 

Green,  Geo.  S.,  241,  436. 
i  Green,  I.  N.,  422. 
i  Green,  Jerry,    188,   407. 
i  Green,  L.  R.,  264,  371. 
j  Green,  T.  R.,  297. 
j  Greenfield,  297. 
IGriebel,  John,  471. 


i  Griffin,  E.  T.,  507. 

j  Griffin,  N.  N.,  407. 

|  Grout,  A.  O.,  436. 

I  Grover,  Henry,  471. 

|  Guard    shoots    man    of    the 

7th  Mass.,  51. 
;Guilford,  M.  J.,  122,  471. 
i  Gun-boat  Service,  53. 

Guyer,  Henry,  103,  390,  391. 

Hager,  G.  E.,  22,  139,  410. 

Hagerstown,  143. 

Haggerty,  D.,  356. 

Haigis,  Jacob,  272,  471,  475. 

Hale,  Geo.  D.  Y.,  436. 
:  Hale,  Oscar,  268,  452. 
|  Hall,  Alfred,  371. 
|  Hall,  C.  M.,  188,  422. 
I  Hall,  J.  M.,  103,  452. 
!  Hall,  M.  H.,  344. 
I  Halleck.Gen.  H.W.,  154, 238. 
JHalstead,  J.  H.,  493. 
I  Hamill,  David,  264,  407. 
•  Hamill,  J.  J.,  422. 

Hamilton,  F.  D.,  356. 

Hamilton,  F.  R.,  345. 
:  Hamilton,  T.,  356. 

Hampton,  66. 
I  Hancock,  144,  145. 
I  Hancock,  Gen.  W.  S.,  70,  71, 

77,  78,  261,  266,  275. 
I  Hand,  S.  P.,  407. 
i  Hannigan,  J.  G.,  371. 

Hanson,  Geo.,  103,  371. 

Harger,  G.  S.,  279,  493. 
iHarlow,  F.  P.,  160.194,241, 
257,   273,   320. 

Harper's    Ferry,     135,    136, 
202. 

Harrington,  T.  F.,  104,  472. 

Harrington,  W.  H.,  371. 

Harris,  Chas.  F.,  493. 

Harris,  G.  W.,  468,  472. 

Harris,  H.  K.,  371. 

Harris,  J.  W.,  214,  264,  391. 

Harris,  S.  J.,  422. 

Harrison,  Pres.  W.  H.,  127. 

HARRISON'S  LANDING,  122. 

Harrison's  Landing,  115,  223. 

Hart,  Davis,  268,  356. 

Hart,  G.  L.,  356. 

Hartwell,  C.    L.,    104,    188, 
288,  493. 

Hartwell,  F.  E.,  264,  391. 

Harvey,  C.  W.,  356. 

Harwood,  O.  S.,  264,  371. 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


Haskins,  A.  A.,   103,  371. 
Haskins,  Win.  E.,  345. 
Hastings,  Benj.,  472. 
Hastings,  H.  A.,  422. 
Hastings,  J.  G.,  473. 
Hastings,  J.  N.,  452. 
Hastings,  P.  C.,  473,  478. 
Hawes,  F.  B.,  103,  436. 
Haxall's  Landing,  116,  127. 
Hay  den,  E.  F.,  422. 
Hayes,  Jas.,  493. 
Hays's  Brigade,  202. 
Hazelton,  A.  J.,  222,  422. 
Hazlett,  John,  371. 
Hazlett,  Wm.,  371. 
Health,   Regimental,  40,  48. 
Healy,  M.  F.,  122,  493. 
Hebert,  C.,  422. 
Hebert,  E.,  422. 
Hecox,  Jas.,  356. 
Hedgesville,  144. 
Heffron,  Levi,  407. 
Heintzelman,  Gen.  S.  P.,  88, 

100,   111. 
Hemmenway,     A.     C.,     102, 

407. 

Hemmenway,    Har.,    407. 
Hemmenway,      Has.,       120, 

121,  408. 

Hemmenway,  John,  452. 
Hendrick,  J.  H.,  5,  269,  271, 

320,    322,    323,    324,    330, 

431,  436. 

Hendrick,  Oren  A.,  436. 
Henry,  A.  F.,  493. 
Henry,  David.  473. 
Henry,  "Tim,"  21. 
Hermann,  John,     104,     268, 

371,  473. 

Herndon's  Station,  203. 
Hersey,  J.  W.,  4,  5.  188,  265, 

318,  319,  473,  475,  517. 
Hewett,  R.,  356. 
Heyward,  Jerome,  493. 
Hibbard,  G.  B.,  408. 
Hickey,  Chas.,  264,  422. 
Hickox,  8.  W.,  264,  371. 
Hill,  Gen.  A.  P.,   199,  257. 
Hill,  Gen.  I).  H.,  88,  117. 
Hill's  Corps,  234. 
Hill,  L.  V.,  473. 
Hill,  Luther,  35. 
Hill,  S.  B.,  371. 
Hillman,  Erastus,  436. 
Hillman,  F.  O.,  92,  391. 


Himes,  Ezra,  391. 

Hindley,  S.  H.,  4,  214,  320, 
322,  473. 

Hines,  H.  P.,  408. 

Hines.  M.  A.,  357. 
\  Hitchcock,  L.,  264,  422. 

Hoag,  W.  D.,  357,  516. 
I  Hock,  Carl,  507. 

Hodge,  A.  W.,  345. 
|  Hodge,  William  D.,  18,  344, 
345. 

Hoft'master,  H.,  372. 

Hogan,  Edwin  T.,  436. 

Hogan,  M.  S.,  188,  408. 

Hogan,  Wm.,  516. 

Holbrook,  Wm.,   22,   25,  39, 
49,  50,  51,  209,  339. 

Holdridge,  G.  F.,  372. 
J  Holman,   Surg.   S.   A.,   48. 
i  Holmes,  G.  H.,  324,  357. 
|  Holyoke,  298. 

HOME,   293. 

!  Hooker,  Gen.  Jos.,  77,  78,  81 , 
105,    127,    155,    173,    176, 
179,    196,    199,    200,    204, 
261. 
|  Hooker,  Mrs.  J.,  47. 

Hooker's  order,  182. 

Hosmer,  J.  B.,  372. 

Hospital  Fund,  40. 

Hospital  records.  43. 

Hopkins,  Erastus,  17. 

Hopkins,  W.  S.  B.,  328. 

Horr,  Chas.  H.,  436. 

Hotchkiss,  C.  D.,  472,  474. 

Houghtailing,     C.     G.,     264, 
372. 

Howard,  Geo.  H.,  474,  483. 

Howard,  H.  N.,   121,  408. 

Howard,  J.  H.,  324,  391. 

Howard,    Gen.    O.    O.,    177, 
181,  226. 

Howe,  Gen.  A.  P.,  191,  192, 
196,  249. 

Howe,  G.  W.,  392. 

Howe,  J.  M.,  474. 

Howe,  Julia  Ward,  150. 

Howes,  C.  F.,  392. 

Howes,  D.  G.,  104,  474. 

Howes,  J.  H.,    5,    103,    391, 
392. 

Howe's  Division,  243. 

Hovey,  C.  E.,  104,  187.  188, 
494. 

Rowland,  J.  W.,  22,  25,  338. 


Hoxie,  D.  E.,  392,  394. 

iHubbard,  C.  H.,  372. 

Hubbard,  Dwight,  408. 

Hubbard,  Geo.  F.,  474. 

Hubbard,  G.  S.,  372. 

Hubbard,  John,  508. 

Hubbard,  W.  A.,  345. 

Hunt,  Ehsha,  372. 

Hunt,  H.  M.,  49,  436. 

Hunt,  Jared  C.,  268,  437. 

Hunt,  Rev.  John,  36. 

Hunt,  Josiah  C.,  437. 

Hunt,  R.  F.,  264,  372. 

Hunter,  A.  W.,  508. 

Huot,  Peter,  494. 

Huntington,  A.  T.,  343,  437, 
438. 

Hyattstown,  204. 

Hyde,  Jas.  H.,  494. 

Hyde,  Oliver,  392,  394. 

Hyde,  Philip,  104,  188,  494, 
497. 

Ide.  Rev.  Dr.,  18. 

Illustrations — 

Flags  and  Drum,  Front.; 
Camp  Scene,  Brightwood, 
34,  52;  Camp  Groups, 
Brightwood,  36,  39;  Win 
ter  Quarters,  Brightwood, 
48;  Fort  Stevens  in  1899, 
65;  Fair  Oaks,  107,  Sa 
lem  Heights,  187;  Marye 
House,  263 ;  Sedgwick 
Monument,  263;  Briggs 
Memorial,  304;  Gettys 
burg  Monument,  321 ,  Reg 
imental  Reunion,  West- 
;  field,  326. 
jlndian  Springs,  143. 
llngraham,  Albert  K., 93,  104, 
345. 

Insects,  73. 

Irish  boy  and    his  soup,  98. 
;"Iron  Man,"  254. 

Irvine,  Sam.,   268,  392. 

Irving,  Wm.,  103,  408. 

Ives,  F.  M.,  357. 

Ives,  H.  A.,  392. 

Ives,  R.  O.,  17,  22,  25,  130, 
219,  220,  221,  351. 

Ives,  Mrs.  R.  O.,  48. 

Jackson,  S.  K.,  437. 

Jackson,      Stonewall,       115, 
135,    189,   274. 

Jacob's  Ford,  204,  235. 


INDEX 


527 


James,  C.  G.,  474. 
James,  F.  M.,  392. 
James  City,  81,  247. 
James  River,  68,  116,  284. 
Jameson,  C.  D.,  102. 
Jameson,  Q.,  422. 
Jarrold,  Thos.,  122,  508. 
Jeffers,  Chas.,  372. 
Jefferson,  Thos.,  128,  248. 
Jefts,  C.  L.,  13. 
Jenkins,  R.,  268,  372. 
Jenne,  Wm.  L.,  103,  408. 
Jersey  Brigade,  186,  248,  253. 
Jewett,  A.  A.,  268,  452. 
Jewett,  C.  E.,  373. 
Jewett,  Geo.,    51,    119,    124, 

153,  340. 

Jewett,  J.  H.,  392,  396. 
Jillson,  M.,  393. 
"Joe,  is  my  head  off?"   271. 
Johnson,    E.    M.,    103,    391, 

393. 

Johnson,  Gen.  Edward,  266. 
Johnson,  E.  T.,  22,  193,  268, 

503,  504. 

Johnson,  John,  408. 
Johnson,  S.  D.,  50,  103,  474. 
Johnson  Grays,  363. 
Johnston,  J.  B.,  408. 
Johnston,   Gen.  Jos.   E.,  88, 

89,   90,    107. 
Jones,  C.  A.  R.,  61. 
Jones,  C.  H.,  373. 
Jones,  H.  G.,  508. 
Jones,  H.  L.,  422. 
Jones,  H.  M.,  188,  437. 
Jones,  I.  L.,  422. 
Jones,  J.  W.,  265,  508. 
Jones,  John,  408. 
Jones,  Wm.  S.,  244,  272,  494. 
Joy,  E.  S.,  373. 
Judd,  D.  O.,    188,   265,  318, 

319,  494. 
July  4,  16,  210. 
Justin,  G.  D.,  122,  437. 
Justin,  J.  M.,  104,  495. 
Kalfeur,  Carl,  508. 
Kalorama,  30,  40. 
Kaulbach,    G.    C.,    39,    103, 

174,    201,    209,    367,    452. 
Kearney,  Gen.  Phil.,  81,  89, 

93,   102,   123,   134,   228. 
Keenan's  Charge,  189. 
Keith,  H.  A.,  22,  139,  338, 

430. 


Keith,  Mrs.  H.  A.,  48. 
Kellogg,  A.  S.,  453. 
Kellogg,  G.  S.,  264,  408,  410. 
Kellogg,  G.  W.,  393. 
Kelly,  Fred.,  357. 
Kelly,  J.  H.,    265,    495. 
Kelly,  Jos.,  495. 
Kelly,  Michael,  357. 
Kelly,  Patrick,  509. 
Kelly,  Wm.,  516. 
Kelly's  Ford,  173,  170,  231. 
Kendall,  F.  H.,  437. 
Kennedy,  Mart.,  268,  393. 
Kenney,  M.  W.,  437. 
Kernan,  Robert,  202,  357. 
Kettle  Run,  227. 
Keyes,  Gen.  E.  D.,  45,  55,  61, 

62,  68,  79,  87,  88,  91,  95, 

97,  99,  100,  102,  104,  109, 

111,  114,  124. 
Keyes,  O.  M.,  188,  453. 
Keyes,  Wm.  D.,  268,  437. 
Key  West,  (Steamer),  133. 
Killelea,  L.,  357. 
Kilpatrick,  Gen.  J.  C.,  227, 

247. 

Kilroy,  Jas.,   121,  423.  495. 
Kimball,   S.   B.,   373. 
Kimball,  S.  F.,  324. 
King,  C.  B.,  345. 
King,  Dr.  C.  B.,  297. 
Kingsley,    C.    B.,    121,    324, 

393,  394. 

Kingsley,  P.  W.,  393. 
Kingsley,  W.  M.,  343,  393, 

394. 

Kirk,  H.  F.,  516. 
Knapp,  C.  H.,  122,  352,  385, 

486,  495. 

Knapp,  C.  I.,  373. 
Knapp,  Horace  H.,  438. 
Knapp,  Wm.  H.,  474. 
Kneeland,  E.  S.,  495. 
Knight,  C.  L.,  189,  509. 
Knight,  E.  L.,  5,  209,  246, 

267,    268,    415,    418,    423, 

447,  448. 

Knight,  J.  L.,  103,  431,  438. 
Knights,  Henry,  210,  495. 
Knox,  Jas.,  79,  93,  139,  159, 

177,  352,  353,  495. 
Lakeman,  David,  453. 
Lamb,  C.  P.,  357. 
Lamb,  W.  F.,  474,  496. 
Lamb,  Willard,  265,  474. 


Lane,  Wm.  T.,  409. 
Lanfair,  R.  W.,  373. 
Langstroch,  J.  T.,   474. 
Lantrell,  Jas.,  409. 
Larkin,  T.  G.,  188,  409. 
Larrabee,  J.  H.,  373. 
Last  Scene  of  All,  519. 
Lathrop,  Edwin  W.,  439. 
Lauder,  John,  496. 
Lawrence,  M.,  453. 
Lay,  Jas.  B.,  122,  509. 
Lay,  Wm.  G.,  189,  268,  509, 

511. 

Leach,  Forace,  393. 
Leary,  Jer.,  373. 
Lee,  Gen.  Fitz  Hugh,  173. 
Lee,  F.  W.,  103,  393. 
Lee,  Col.  H.  C.,  17. 
Lee,  Gen.   R.   E.,   107,   117, 

155,    158,    167,    196,    201, 

227,  234,  260. 
Leland,  B.  F.,  6,  22,  93,  95, 

102,  107,  464. 
Letters,  43,  45,  49,   55,  82, 

97,  194. 

Levy,  Wm.,  357. 
Lewinsville,  61. 
Lewis,   E.  T.,   509. 
Lewis,  Frank,  345. 
Lewis,  Miles,  36,  453. 
Lewis,  W.  J.,  423. 
Liddy,  Anth.,  287,  474. 
|  Light  Division,  184. 
Lilly,  Rufus,  474. 
Lincoln,  President,  8,  30,  32, 

44,  59,  124,  142,  149,  163, 

173,  324. 

Lincoln's     Gettysburg     Ad 
dress,  324. 

Littlefield,  J.  D.,  509. 
Littlejohn,  Otis,  168,  496. 
Livermore,  L.  D.,  104,  475. 
Livingston,    Jas.,    104,    188, 

496. 
Lombard,  H.  C.,  11,  17,  21, 

22,  25,  124,  130,  177,  294, 

326,  429. 

Londergan,  J.  R.,   264,  423. 
Long,  Geo.,  373. 
Long,  Gov.  John  D.,  327. 
Longley,  S.  W.,  297. 
Longley,  Z.,  453. 
Longstreet,   Gen.   J.   S.,   88, 

158,  199,  206,  222,  234. 
Loomis,  Dan.,  409. 


528 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


Loomis,  Geo.,  496,  501. 
Loomis,  .].  A..  323.  394. 
Loomis,  Victor  O.,  439. 
Loomis,  Win.  H.,  288,  324, 

509,  511. 

Loppy,  Win.  H.,  510. 
Lortscher,  C.,  103,  423. 
Louisiana  Tigers,  231. 
Louisiana  Troops,  5th,   172. 
Lovett,  Murray,  510. 
Lovett,  Pat.,  394. 
Lovettsville,  209. 
Luther,  Chas.  H.,  510.  514. 
Luther,  Daniel,  345. 
Luther,  H.  W.,  104,  475. 
Luther,  J.  E.,  358. 
Lyceum,  244,  246. 
Lyon,  H.  P.,  475. 
Lyon,  Thos.,  510. 
McAllister,  Dan.,  439. 
McArthur,  Jas.,  373. 
McCarter,  Col.  J.  M.,  94. 
McCarthy's  Battery,  91,  101, 

152,  168. 
McCartney's     Battery,     192, 

196,  197. 
McClellan,  Gen.  G.  B.,  24,  33, 

37,  40,  59,  60,  70,  75,  76, 

93,  94,   106,  107,  111,  124, 

127,    137,    142,    149,    215, 

224 

McClellan,  Geo.  B.,  Jr.,  224. 
McClosky,  Thos.,  510. 
McCoy's  Ford.  144. 
McDonald,  Jas.,  453. 
McElroy,  John,  358. 
McFarlane,  C.   A.,   120,    121, 

423. 

McGee,  Hugh,  264.  358. 
Mclntire,  C.  C.,  423. 
McMillan,  M.,  394. 
McNeil,  John,  423. 
McWilliams,  Ed.,  358. 
Magee,  Nelson,  439. 
Maginley,  T.,  103,  373,  375. 
Magrath,   L.,   103,    122,  439. 
Magruder,    Gen.    J.    B.,    67, 

76. 

Maguire,  Jos.,  496. 
Maine  Troops,  6th,  184:  7th, 

70,   271;  llth,  74. 
Mallory,  E.  J.,  121,  358. 
Mallory,  J.  W.,  120,  121,  374. 
"Malty,"      Ma.j.      Parker's 

horse,  166. 


Malvern  Hill,   116,   127,  220. 

MALVEKN  HILL,   117. 

Manassas,  60. 

Manning,   A.   A.,  394,   396. 

Mansir,  A.  S.,  338,  352,  359. 
404,  464. 

Marcell,  Andrew,  265,  510. 

Marcott,  Frank,  454. 

Markham,  A.  J.,  358. 

Markham,  Win.  A.,  272,  476. 

Marsh,  Wm.  R.,  22,  92,  95, 
109,  336. 

Marsh,  Mrs.  W.  R.,  48. 

Marshall,  Capt.  E.G.,  11,  14, 
26. 

Marshall  House,  30. 

Martin,  John,  409. 

Marvell,  W.  C.,  188,  454. 

Marye's  Heights,  155,  158, 
184,  189,  191. 

Marye  House,   263. 

Mason,  F.  B.,  103,  208,  409. 

Mason,  Wm.  W.,  324,  510. 

Massachusetts  Troops — 1st 
Cav.,218;  6,35;  7,32,48, 
51,69,81,  84,91,  178,  184, 
186,  190,  194,  231,  284, 
314;  8,  213;  9,  157;  15, 
44,  76,  203;  18,  50,  51; 
20.  44.  200;  21,  9,  157; 
27,  9,  144;  32.  225;  34,  9, 
134;  37,  9,  64,  142,  145, 
147,  160,  186,  194,  208, 
216,  228,  251,  258,  284, 
289,  316;  46,  9,  213;  49, 
9;  51,  133,  213;  52,  9; 
56,  258,  259;  57,  9,  259; 
58,  259;  59,  259. 

Mather,  P.  F.,  122,  454. 

Mather,  Wm.,  103,  394. 

Mattapony  River,  272. 

Matthews,  Win.,  439. 

Matthias  Point,  29. 

May  Day,  182. 

Maynard,  E.  E.,  374. 

Maynard,  Geo.  A.,  454. 

Meacham,  Wm.  L.,  454. 

Mead,  Geo.  B.,  439. 

Meade,  Gen.  G.  G.,  181,  204, 
227,  234,  238. 

Measles,  18. 

Mechanicsville,  113. 

MEDFOHH,  23. 

Megrath,  Chris.,  188.  454. 

Mehan,  Wm.,  476. 


!  Merriam,  E.  S.,  20. 

Merriam,  J.  Q.  A.,  423. 

Merrick,  Mrs.  S.,  38,  39,  329. 

Meridian  Hill,  30. 

Merrill,  Lieut.,  70. 
i  Merrill,  A.  C.,  43,  81, 103,  476. 
|  Merrill,  J.  F.,  104,  476. 
I  Merrill,  J.  H.,  121,  358. 
iMei-rill,  Jas.  L.,  476. 
J  Merrimac,  66. 
I  Merritt's  Division,  245. 
!  Messenger,  Edwin,  454. 

Meyer,  C.  B.,  409. 
JMiddletown,  212. 

Midgley,  A.  E.,  242,  257,  258, 
264,  464,  476. 

M  les,  Col.  D.  S.,  135. 
i  Millard,  R.  W.,  358. 

Miller,  Edmund,  423. 

Miller,  Ozro,  6,  22,  25,  40,  43, 
92,  97,  105,  110,  112,  119, 
120,  121,  122,  126,  178, 
220,  299,  336,  463. 

Miller,  Robert,  454. 
i  Miller's  Battery,  101. 

Millett,  S.,  374. 

Millis,  C.  H.,   103,  374. 

MINE   RUN,   234. 

Mine  Run,  237,  238. 

Mitchell,  Jas.  D.,  51. 
iMoffatt,  M.  H.,  91,  264,  439. 
|  Monitor,  66,  124. 
I  Monocacy,  204. 
i  Monocacy  River,  135. 
j  Monroe,   D.  F.,  97,  104,  476. 

Monrovia,  204. 
|  Montague,  Col.  G.  L.,  230. 
I  Monticello,  24S. 
j  Moody,  E.  F.,  395. 
i  Moody,  M.  T.,  103,  395. 
1  Moon,  John,  374. 

Moore,  D.  M.,  214,  503,  510. 
|  Moore,    Edwin  C..    139,   448, 

454. 

j  Moore,  E.  T.,  265,  510. 
I  Moore,  John,  516. 

Moore,  Thos.,  265,  510. 

Moran,  Patrick,  439. 

Morley,  E.  M..  409. 

Morris,  Judge,  17. 

Morrissey,  Ed.,  358. 

Morrissey,  John,  476. 
:  Morrison,  B.  R.,  454. 
|  Morrison's   Home.   Dr.,   180, 
181. 


INDEX 


529 


Morse,  Jas.  G.,  103,  439. 
Morse,  Wm.  J.,  510. 
Morton,  Dwight,  395. 
Morton,  E.  C.,  472,  476. 
Morton,  F.  O.,  465,  476. 
Morton's  Ford,  234. 
Mosby,  Col.  J.  S.,  228. 
Moseley,  Surg.  N.  R.,  48. 
Mosman,  M.  H.,  322. 
Mott's  Battery,  73. 
Mt.  Vernon,  29,  66. 
MUD  MAKCH,   167. 
Mulford,  Maj.  J.  E.,  221. 
Mullet,  D.  A.,  268,  409. 
Mullett,  J.  S.,  409. 
Mullen,  Patrick.  440. 
Mungan,  Dan.,  409. 
Munroe,  E.  J.,  409. 
Munson  Hill,  41. 
Munyan,  A.  E.,  6,  246,  267 

268,  395,  464. 
Murphy,  J.  J.,  477. 
Murphy,  Mich.,  475,  477. 
Murphy,  Pat.,  409. 
Murphy.  Tim.,  409. 
Murphy,  Thos.,  104.  477. 
Music  by  the  Enemy,  197. 
Muskets,  Flint-lock,  71. 
Muster-in,  14,  26. 
Muster-out,  298. 
Naglee,  Gen.  H.  M.,  85,  89. 
Nally,  E.  P.,  121,  395. 
Navy  Yard,  30. 
Neff,  John,  265,  511. 
Neill,  Gen.  T.  H.,  250,  259, 

275. 
Neill's  Brigade,      211,      259, 

284. 

Nelson,  Jas.,  477. 
Nevin,  Col.  D.  J..  290. 
New  Baltimore,      149,      150, 

229. 

New  Colors,  215. 
Newcomb,  D.,  358. 
Newell,  J.  K.,   3,    5,    22,   84, 

90,  104,  118,  132,  139,  150, 

159,    177,    183,    209,    242. 

322,  326,  485. 
Newell,  Mrs.  J.  K.,  48. 
Newell,  Wm.  S.,  440. 
Newhouse^    A.    N.    C.,     122, 

511. 
New  Kent  Court  House,  83, 

245. 
Newmarket,  204. 


Newport  News,  67. 
Newson,  Wm.  M.,  201,  496. 
Newton,  Edwin,  410. 
•  Newton,  F.  O.,  496. 
'  Newton,  H.  D.,  410. 
Newton,  Isaac,  358. 
Newton,     Gen.     John,     150, 
157,    160,    173,    174,    190, 
192,  194,  212. 
Newton,  John,  516. 
Newton,  S.  D.,  264,  359. 
New  York  City,  228. 
New  York  Herald,  From  the, 

101. 

New  York  Troops,  50th 
Engineers,  85;  27,  212; 
36,  32,  43,  48,  65,  69,  70, 
74,  91,  105,  117,  118,  160, 
172,  183,  184,  185,  189, 
192,  204,  216,  313;  39, 
202;  55.  81,  91;  56,  74; 
62,  42;  65,  84,  85;  77, 
275;  98,  197;  111,  202; 
122,  187;  125,  202;  126, 
202. 

Nichols,  C.  S.,  374. 
Nichols,  H.  L.,  423. 
Nichols,  Wilbur,  454. 
Nickerson,  M.  S.,  359. 
;  Nims,  J.  A.,  395. 
Nims,  Silas,  477. 
|  Nixon,  F.  M.,  268,  454. 
Noble,  Henry,    268,   410. 
Noble,    J.    M.,    122,    511. 
Noble,  L.  P.,  395. 
Noble,  T.  8.,   188,   189,  233, 

430,   504,   511. 
Noble,  W.  W.,  440. 
'•  Nolan's  Raid,  56. 
Nolan,  Samuel,  58. 
i  Norcott,  John.  23. 
>  Norcross,  F.  N.,  395. 
North  Adams,  298. 
North  Anna  River,  280. 
!  North  Carolina     Troops,     5,i 

80;    14,  117;    30,  119. 
I  Northward,  198,  201. 
|  Nurses,  Regimental,  38,  328. 
!  Nutting,  Wm.,  454. 
Nye,  D.  B.,  188,  496. 
Nye,  Isaac  W.,  359. 
Nye,  John  W.,  359. 
Oakes,  O.  S.,  103,  455. 
OAK  GROVE,  111. 
O'Brien,  John,  268,  423. 


O'Brien,  Pat.,  188,  359. 
O'Connor,  Thos.,  516. 
O'Hara,  H.  J.,  121,  423. 
O'Leary,  Surg.  Chas.,  48. 
O'Sullivan,  John,  410. 
Officers'  baggage,  63. 
OFFICERS  RESIGN,  139. 
Old  Brigade,  312. 
Olds,  Jas.,  359. 
On  Picker,  175. 
Orange  and  Alex.  R.  R.,  249. 
Order  No.  4,  9. 
Osborne,  H.  C.,  374. 
Osborne,  H.  P.,  455. 
Otis,  Abner  D.,  496. 
Otis,  C.  M.,  424. 
Ould,   Col.   Robert,   221. 
Packard,  Chas.,  411. 
Packard,  C.  C.,  477. 
Packard,   L.  M.,  455. 
Paddock,  I.  S.,  268,  424. 
Page,  Henry  A.,  496. 
Palmer,  C.  G.,  411. 
Palmer,  Gen.  I.  N.,  109,  111, 

113,  121,  126. 
Pamunkey  River,  281. 
Park,  F.  C.,  386,  395. 
Parker,  A.  B.,  188,  197,  449, 

455. 
Parker,  D.  F.,  131,  133,  139, 

140,    145,    152,    164,    166, 

186,    194,    205,    208,    242, 

243,  244,    246,    267,    268, 
269,  336. 

Parker,  G.  and  T.,  40. 

Parsons,  Henry,  104,  477. 

Parsons,  Rev.  H.  M.,  10,  17, 
294. 

Parsons,  H.  W.,  395. 

Parsons,  J.  B.,  22,  25,  92,  95, 
103,  122,  127,  130,  135, 
164,  194,  208,  209,  243, 

244,  245,    250,    257,    267; 
Paper    before    Loyal     Le 
gion,   272;    290,   295,  296, 
299,    307,    308,    324,    326, 
328,  335,  384. 

Parsons,  Mrs.  J.  B.,  48. 
Parsons  Eulogy,  307. 
Parsons,  J.  C.,  64. 
Paull,  O.  B.,  122,    271,    496. 
Paulus,  Nich.,  455. 
Paymaster,  37,  50,  72,   153, 

218,  233,  242,  251. 
Peabody,  G.  W.,   188,  497. 


530 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


Peach  Orchard,  114. 
Peale,  C.  W.,  154. 
Pease,  E.  S.,  395. 
Peasley,  C.,  359. 
Peck,  Gen.  J.  JM  102. 
Pediculus  Corporis,  115. 
Peebles,  J.  M.,  511,  512. 
Pel  ton,  A.  E.,  424. 
Pendleton,  G.  R.,  264,  359. 
PENINSULAR  CAMPAIGN,  59. 
Pennock,  C.  L.,  359. 
Pennsylvania    Troops,      8th 

Cav.,    83;    93d,    94,    101; 

102,  101. 

Perkins,  H.  E.,  272,  512. 
Perkins,   Chap.    F.   B.,   233, 

243,  250,  340. 
Perkins,  H.  E.,  272,  512. 
Perkins,  Wm.  H.,  374. 
Perry,  Alex.,  374. 
Perry,  C.  W.,  411. 
Perry,  John,  374. 
Perry,  Peter,  374. 
Perry,  R.  S.,  455. 
Pervear,  H.,  359. 
Pervere,  D.  C.,  359. 


Pervere,  R.,  268,  359. 
Pervere,  Rufus,  359. 
Pervere,  R.  M.,  360. 
Peters,  C.  A.,  360. 
Petersburg,  290. 
Pettis,  Amos,   68,  186,  187 

188,  189,  497. 
Pettit,  R.  C.,  374,  375. 
Phelps,  Ellen,  20. 
Phelps,  F.  B.,  297. 
Phelps,  F.  H.,  440. 
Phillips,  A.  C.,  207,  424. 
Phillips,  Geo.  C.,  396. 
Pickets   on    the    Rappahan 

nock,  165. 

Pickets  Charge,  208. 
Pickett's  Division,  222. 
Pierce,  Annie  F.,  108. 
Pierce,  Chas.  P.,  455. 
Pierce,  E.  C.,  440. 
Pierce,    Geo.,    22,    120,    121 

139,    150,    159,    164,    173 

217,  246,  272,  447,  449. 
Pierce,  Mrs.  Geo.,  48. 
Pie;ce,  O.  W.,  264,  411. 
Pike,  C.  N.,  374,  375. 
Pike,  J.  W.,  287,  375. 


Pinney,  J.  W.,  360. 

Pittsfield,  298. 

Plaisted,  M.  H.,  512. 

Pleasanton,  Gen.  A.,  196. 

Plunkett,  Sergt.,  157. 

Policy,  G.  F.,  242,  291,  341, 
396. 

Poolesville,  135,  203,  204. 

Pooley,  John,  268,  455. 

Pond  Point,  143. 

Pope,  Gen.  John,  134. 

Portell,  Pat.,  375. 

Porter,  Alden,  440. 

Porter,  B.,  17,  22,  94,  415. 

Porter,  Gen.  F.  J.,  85,   113. 

Porter,  Geo.  W.,  424. 

Porter,  Peter,  424. 

Portrait  Groups,  6,  36,  39, 
177,  209,  318,  326,  329, 
339,  345,  355,  357,  370, 
375,  386,  391,  394,  396, 
404,  410,  418,  420,  425, 
431,  438,  442,  449,  453, 
459,  465,  468,  472,  475, 
478,  481,  486,  490,  497, 
504,  508,  511,  514. 


PORTRAITS 


Adams,  W.  H.,  459. 
Anderson,  G.  W.,  420. 
Ashley,  W.  A.,  242,  404. 
Austin,  C.  L.,  475. 
Austin,  J.  E.,  478. 
Averill,  L.  T.,  442. 
Avery,  John,  468. 
Bartlett,  E.  B.,  242. 
Bartlett,  J.  F.,  481. 
Beaumont,  J.  J.,  508. 
Bigelow,  G.  W.,  6,  209. 
Bigelow,  J.  W.,  465. 
Billings,  G.  W.,  420. 
Bishop,  W.  I.,  6,  386. 
Black,  L.  W.,  418. 
Bliss,  G.  S.,  36. 
Bowles,  R.  W.,  342. 
Braman,  J.  H.,  36. 
Brewster,  C.  H.,  36,    209, 

326. 
Briggs,  F.  M.,  468. 


Briggs,  Col.  H.  S.,  300. 
Brooks,  H.  F.,  453. 
Brown,  Wm.  H.,  318,  375. 
Burnham,  Geo.,  326. 
Card,  M.  V.,  486. 
Carpenter,  W.  W.,  465. 
Chamberlain,      C.     N.,     39, 

339. 

Chandler,  A.,  481. 
Chase,  D.  M.,  177. 
Clark,  A.  B.,  481. 
Clark,  J.  W.,  438. 
Coburn,  J.  P.,  391. 
Cochrane,  C.  W.,  490. 
Conner,  Geo.,  490. 
Converse,  H.  M.,  497. 
Cook,  J.  H.,  36. 
Cotrell,  A.  S.,  404. 
Cushman,  J.  A.,  355. 
Currier,  J.  W.,  177. 
Damon,  S.  C..  438. 


Darby,  W.  F.,  209,  370. 
Day,  E.  E.,  6. 
Day,  L.,  36. 
Decker,  J.  A.,  486. 
Decker,  J.  M.,  6. 
Dodge,  Wm.  D.,  345. 
Drake,  C.  F.,  318,  472. 
Eaton,  L.  O.,  177. 
Edwards,  Oliver,  339. 
Eldredge,  S.  N.,  418 
Estes,  Wm.  H.,  497. 
Eustis,  Col.  H.  L.,  6,  334. 
Evans,  M.  W.,  371. 
Fargo,  A.  F.,  355. 
Foster,  F.  A.,  425. 
Franklin,  J.  A.,  481. 
Gassner,  Geo.,  425. 
Gilman,  J.  H.,  209. 
Gilmore,  H.  G.,  209,  404. 
Green,  C.  E.,  449.  . 
Guyer,  Henry,  391. 


INDEX 


531 


Hager,  G.  E.,  410. 
Haigis,  J.,  475. 
Harrington,  F.  F.,  472. 
Harris,  G.  W.,  468. 
Hastings,  B.,  472. 
Hastings,  P.  C.,  478. 
Hendricks,  J.  H.,  430. 
Hersey,  J.  W.,  318,  475. 
Holbrook,  Wm.,  39,  209, 

326,  339. 

Holdridge,  G.  F.,  373. 
Hosmer,  D.,  36. 
Hotchkiss,  C.  D.,  472. 
Howard,  J.  H.,  391. 
Howes,  J.  R.,  391. 
Hoxie,  D.  E.,  394. 
Hyde,  Oliver,  394. 
Hyde,  Philip,  497. 
Hunter,  A.  W.,  508. 
Huntington,  A.  T.,  438. 
Jewett,  J.  H.,  396. 
Johnson,  E.  M.,  391. 
Johnson,  E.  T.,  504. 
Judd,  D.  O.,  318,  494. 
Kaulbach,  G.  C.,  209. 
Keith,  H.  A.,  36. 
Kellogg,  G.  S.,  410. 
Killelea,  L   J.,  357. 
Knapp,  C.  H.,  486. 
Kingsley,  C.  B.,  394. 
Kingsley,  W.  M.,  394. 
Knight,  E.  L.,  36,  209, 

418. 

Knight,  J.  L.,  431. 
Knox,  Jas.,  177. 
Lay,  W.  G.,  511. 
Leland,  B.  F.,  6. 
Lombard,  H.  C.,  177,  326. 
Loomis,  W.  H.,  511. 
Luther,  C.  H.,  514. 


Maginley,  T.  J.,  375. 
Manning.,  A.  A.,  396. 
Mansir,  A.  S.,  404. 
Merrick,  Mrs.  S.,  39,  329. 
Midgley,  A.  E.,  242. 
Miller,  Maj.  O.,  6. 
Morton,  E.  C.,  472. 
Morton,  F.  O.,  465. 
Munyan,  A.  E.,  6. 
Murphy,  M.,  475. 
Newell,  J.  K.,  177,  326. 
Newton,  H.  D.,  410. 
Noble,  T.  S.,  504. 
Park,  F.  C.,  386. 
Parker,  A.  B.,  449. 
Parker,  D.  F.,  242. 
Parsons,  J.  B.,  209,  308, 

326. 

Peabody,  G.  W.,  497. 
Peebles,  J.  M.,  511. 
Perkins,  F.  B.,  339. 
Pettit,  R.  C.,  375. 
Phillips,  G.  C.,  396. 
Pierce,  Geo..  449. 
Pike,  C.  N.,  375. 
Polley,  G.  F.,  242. 
Powers,  C.  F.,  468. 
Putnam,  W.  A.,  242. 
Regan,  Wm.  O.,  431. 
Remington,  L.  M.,  177. 
Robinson,  A.  B.,  329. 
Rust,  A.,  36,  391. 
Sackett,  C.,  514. 
Sauer,  And.,  478. 
Scott,  D.  R.,  459. 
Scudder,  C.  B.,  357. 
Severance,  H.  C..  465. 
Shaftoe,  Wm.,  Jr  ,  410. 
Shaw,  A.  D.,  438. 
Shene,  Jas.,  418. 
|  Sherman,  J.  A.,  375. 


Shurtleff,  Flavel.,  404. 

Smart,  E.,  177. 

Smith,  G.  D.,  511. 

Smith,  N.  W.,  565. 

Stanard,  W.  M.,  357. 

Streeter,  Wm.,  465. 

Taft,  H.  L.,  459. 

Taylor,  F.  W.,  459. 

Taylor,  H.  V.,  481. 

Thompson,  G.  W.,  514. 

Tolman,  A.,  475. 

Tower,  H.  A.,  345. 

Tucker,  G.  G.,  355. 

Turner,  J.  W.,  420. 

Ufford,  C.  D.,  431. 

Vincent,  M.  H.,  475. 

Walker,  M.  P.,  310,  318, 
386. 

Walker,  J.  R.,  490. 

Walkley,  L.  B.,  177. 
j  Wallace,  G.  S.,  418. 

Warren,  A.  H.,  107. 

Warriner,  S.  C.,  425. 

Webster,  J.  F.,  449. 

Wells,  C.  C.,  39. 

Wells,  D.  W.,  370. 

Wheeler,  N.  F.,  442. 

Whipple,  S.  R.,  459. 

Whitmore,  C.  M.,  449. 
I  Whitney,  Edwin,  386. 

Wiggins,  H.  A.,  418. 

Wilcox,  D.  M.,  453. 

Wilcox,  E.  K.,  6. 
|  Williams,  A.  L.,  449. 
I  Williams,  S.  S.,  36,  386. 
|  Wilson,  J.  E.,  478. 
!  Wolcott,  Miss  H.,  39,  329. 

Wood,  O.  B.,  478. 
I  Woodward,  E.,  478. 
'Wright,  F.  C.,  36. 


POSTSCRIPT,  297. 
Potomac,  203. 
Potter,  Chas.,  121,  411. 
Potter,  E.  F.,  455. 
Potter,  E.  T.,  272,  424. 
Potter,  F.  W.,  268,  456. 
Potter,  Geo.  W.,  448,  456. 
Potter,  J.  W.,  456. 


Potvin,  Chas.,  424. 
Powers,  C.  F.,  188,    468, 

477. 
Powers,  L.  J.,  293. 


T.. 


14,     345, 


Powers, 

477. 

|  Powers,  Neville  N.,  103,  360, 
456. 


Potter,  M.  A.,  103,  260,  264, |  Powers,  Rich,  497. 

456.  j  Prentiss,  Geo.  L.,  456. 

Potter,  Wm.  J.,  456.  I  Prentiss,  H.  B.,  396. 


Presby,  Chas.   H.,  440. 
Presentations,  39. 
Preston,  Robert,  (F.,)  440. 
Preston,  Robert,  516. 
Prickett,     Jesse,     268,     324, 

424. 

Prospect  Hill,  59. 
Prouty,  E.  F.,  396. 
Prouty,  H.  E.,  14,  512. 
Prouty,  L.  M.,  478. 
Prouty,  Wm.  H.,  360. 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


Pryor  House,  84. 
Puffer,  A.  C.,  456. 
Pugh,  Thos.,  188,  360. 
Putnam,  Geo.  L.,  102,  396. 
Putnam,  S.  L.,  188,  440. 
Putnam,  W.  A.,  22,  152,  162, 

166,  169,  242,  416. 
Putney,  A.  L.,  478. 
Putney,   N.  S.,  99,  103,  478. 
Quaker  City  (Steamer),  29. 
Quaker  Guns,  202. 
Quinn,  J.  W.,  411. 
Rabson,  Jas.,  512. 
Rafter,  Rich.,  440. 
Raider,  H.  M.,  512. 
RAILROAD  GUARDING,  224. 
Railroads  torn  up,  280,   282. 
Rarnsdell,  H.  L.,  424. 
Ramsdell,  Horace,  516. 
Randall,  J.  M.,  411. 
Randall,  Levi,  411. 
Rapidan,  The,  180,  226,231, 

234,  253,  254. 
Rappahannock    River,    156, 

223. 
RAPPAHANNOCK    STATION, 

226. 

Rations,  12,  15. 
Rawson,  John,  478. 
Ray,  A.  J.,  346. 
Read,    S.    B.    M.,    160,    161 

162. 

Read,  S.  W.,  188,  265,  497. 
Reardon,  Dan.,  411. 
Reed,  E.  P.,  222,  250,   512. 
Reealistment,  240,  241. 
Regan,  Wm.  O.,  431,  440. 
Reilly,  John,  188,  264,  375. 
Regimental  Roster,  332. 
Reinhardt,  Robt.,  512. 
Remington,  B.  F.,  440. 
Remington,    L.    M.,    22,    38, 

39,  139,  159,  177,  447. 
Remington,   Mrs.  L.  M.,  48, 

53. 
Reports,    Briggs',    94;    Dev- 

ens',       160,       Sedgwick's, 

191. 

Republican,  Springfield,  15. 
RETALIATION,  220. 
Reynolds,  Geo.,  264,  396. 
Reynolds,  Gen.  J.  F.,  212. 
"Reviewed      by      Lincoln," 

173,  174. 


Rhoades,  E.  B.,  479. 

Rhode  Island  Troops,  2,  32, 
54,  63,  65,  69,  124,  147, 
156,  160,  183,  186,  250, 
257,  258,  284,  287,  315, 
1st  arty.,  231. 

Rice,  Elizabeth  D.,  20 

Rice,  Luther,  360. 

Rice,  S.  N.,  166,  424. 
i  Rice,  Wm.,  456. 

Rice,  W.  W.,  376. 
|  Rice,  Mrs.  Wm.,  47. 

Richards,  R.  A.,  425. 
|  Richie,  Col.  H.,  126,  132,  133. 
i  Richmond,  83,   84,  86,   111, 
228,  234. 

Richmond  Examiner,  220. 

Ricketts,   Gen.  Jas.  B.,  284. 

Riedel,  Jacob,  188,  479. 

Riley,  David,  265,  498. 
i  Riley,  Thos.,  121,  411. 

Ring,  Jos.,  360. 

Ripley,     Frank,     264,     456. 

Rip-raps,  66. 

Roanoke,  53,  55. 
.Roberts,  Albert,  102,  376. 
'Roberts,  Chap.  J.  L.,  244. 
jRobbins,  Chas.  H.,  441. 
SRobbins,  J.  E.,  456. 
j  Robbins,  R.  S.,  396. 
,|  Robertson,  L.  F.,  441. 

Robertson's  Tavern,  236. 
i  Robinson,    Albert     B.,    128, 
339,  340. 

Robinson,  Geo.,  265,  512. 

Robinson,  H.  S.,  346. 

Robinson,  J.  C.,  376. 

Rochan,  Alphonse,  512. 
!  Rockwell,  Hon.  F.  W.,  301, 
328. 

Rockwood,  E.  R,,  104,    456. 
|  Rodgers,  Chas..  396. 

Rodgers,  Col.  H.,  172. 
i  Rogers,  Henry  H.,  441. 
;  Rooster-fight,  240. 
I  Ross,  J.  H.,  54,  411. 
iRoss,  Levi,  214,  416,  441. 
|  Roth,  C.  L.,  264,  411. 

Rouse,  A.  W.,  376. 
iRowell,  D.  M.,  512. 

Roy,  Augustus,  103,  441. 
i  Russell,  C.  O.,  23. 

Russell,  Chas.,  265,  479. 

Russell,  C.  W.,  264,  479, 
483. 


Russell,    Gen.    D.     A.,    23 1, 

249,    263,    279,    284. 
Russell,  Pat.,  498. 
Russell,  Wm.,  Jr.,  156. 
Russian  Naval  Officers,  240.. 
Rust,  Alvin,  324,  391,  397. 
Ryan,  K.,  324,  360. 
Ryan,  Rich.,  268,  411. 
Ryther,  C.  W.,  457. 
Ryther,  Wm.  E.,  188,  457. 
Sackett,  A.  F.,  441. 
Sackett,    Cornel.,    324,    512, 

514. 

Salem  Church,  190. 
Salem  Heights,      186,      187,. 

191,  192. 
SALEM  HEIGHTS  OR  CHURCH, 

184. 

Sanders,  John,  360. 
Sandford,  M.  S.,  376. 
Sandusky,  Ohio,  243. 
Sargent,   Theo.,   4,    53,    147, 

158,    207,    222,    265,    513. 
Sauer,  And.,  478,  479. 
Savage,  R,,  376. 
SAVAGE  STATION,  113. 
Savory,  T.  G.,  21. 
Sawyer,  E.  O.,  36,  457. 
I  Sawyer,  L.  L.,  412. 
Sawin,  Wm.  J.,  441. 
Saxton,  Bell  C.,  20. 
Scare  orders,  41,  44,  55. 
Scott,  Albert,  516. 
Scott,  D.  R.,  457,  459. 
Scott,  F.  A.,  457. 
j  Scott,  Geo.  M.,  498. 
Scott,  J.  L.,  425. 
Scott,  L.  H.,  122,  457. 
i  Scott,  Wm.  H.,      188,      264, 

458. 
Schouler,  Ad'j't.  Gen.  Wm., 

7. 

Schumaker,  63. 
Scudder,  C.  B.,  264,  357,  360. 
Seaver,  Jas.  E.,  51. 
Sedgwick,    Gen.    John,    169, 

173,    174,    189,    191,    193, 

195,    196,    200,    206,    211, 

213,    219,    233,    237,    247; 

killed,  262. 

Sedgwick  Monument,  263. 
Seifert,  August,  498. 
Seven  Pines,  85,  119. 
SEVEN    DAYS'   FIGHT,    110. 


INDEX 


533 


Severance,   H.   C.,   465,   479. 
Seward,  Wm.  H.,  8. 
Seymour,  Gen.  T.,  259. 
Shaftoe,  Wm.,  376,  410,  412. 
Shaler's   Brigade,    207,    231, 

243. 

Shannon,   Thos.,   264,   425. 
Sharpsburg,  137. 
Sharps-rifle,  100. 
Shaw,  A.  D.,  438,  441. 
Shaw,  Chas.  H.,  264,  412. 
Shaw,  J.  M.,  412. 
Shay,  D.  D.,  103,  498. 
Shay,  Dennis,  397. 
Shea,  Peter,  498. 
Sheehan,  John,  479. 
Shehan,  Tim.,  425. 
Sheehey,  Rob't.,  264,  397. 
Shene,  Jas.,  418,  425. 
Shelburne  Falls.  297. 
Sheldon,  A.  C.,  479. 
Sheldon,  J.  W.,  264,  376. 
Shenandoah  Valley,  200. 
Sheridan,  Gen.  P.  H.,  284. 
Sherman,  E.  E.,  214,  376. 
Sherman,  G.  H.,  376. 
Sherman,    J.    A.,    103,    375, 

376. 

Short,  Wm.,  361. 
Shultes,  Geo.,  361. 
Shumway,  D.  K.,  397. 
Shumway,  H.  K.,  441. 
Shurtleff,    Flavel,     22,     120, 

122,    188,    189,    246,    259, 

338,   352,   385,   404,   464. 
Shurtleff,  Mrs.  F.,  48. 
Shurtleff,  Wm.  S.,  21,  294. 
Sibley,  R.  A.,  50. 
Sibley,  T.  A.,  458. 
Sickles,  Gen.  D.  E.,  181. 
Silkworth.  M.,  377. 
Simonds,  N.  H.,  458. 
Simons,  Wolfe,  441. 
Sinotte,  John,  377. 
Skelton,  Martha,  128. 
Skidmore,  W.  J.,  264,  425. 
Skinner,  John  F.,  442. 
Slate,  M.  F.,  516. 
Slatterly,  Wm.,  377. 
Slocum,    Gen.    H.    W.,    135, 

181,  226. 
Small  Pox,  49. 
Smart,  E.,  22,  25,  84,  92,  95, 

102,   106,   177,  366. 
Smith,  Albert,  264,  458. 


Smith,  A.  C.,  104,  498. 
Smith,    Algernon   S.,   498. 
Smith,  Chas.  A.,  513. 
Smith,  Dan.,  Jr.,  104,  458. 
Smith,  E.  P.,  265,  498. 
Smith,  F.  B.,  397. 
Smith,  Geo.  F.,  323. 
Smith,  G.  D.,  511,  513. 
Smith,  Gen.  G.  W.,  87. 
Smith,  H.  P.,  104,  265,  499. 
Smith,  J.  W.,  412. 
Smith,  L.,  397. 
Smith,  .Luther,  499. 
Smith,  N.  W.,  465,  479. 
Smith,  Peter,  121,  361. 
Smith,  S.  P.,  231,  499. 
Smith,  W.  B.,  103,   412. 
Smith,  W.  M.,  377. 
Smith,  Wm.  E.,  499. 
Smith,  Gen.  Wm.  F.,  67,  68, 

78.     135,     157,     170,    284, 

290. 

Smith,    Wm.    H.,   (E),    426. 
Smith,  William  H.,  (l),  104, 

499. 

Smith,  Wm.  L.,  17. 
Smith,  Wm.  R.,  104,  458. 
Smith,  Wm.  S.,  499. 
Smoky  Hill,  154. 
Snow,  Albert,  513. 
Snow,  Henry  B.,  442. 
Snow,  John  E.,  499. 
Snow,  L.  A.,  479,  483. 
Solomon,  Henry,  513. 
Solomon,  John,  265,  513. 
Solon,  Jas.,  412. 
South  Carolina     Troops,     5, 

165. 

SOUTHWARD,  211. 
Southworth,  Edward,  64. 
Southworth,  Wells,  64. 
Sparks,  J.  H.,  513. 
Spaulding,  S.  R.,  (Steamer), 

26,  28,  30. 

Spellman.  C.  E.,  426. 
Spencer,  298. 
Spencer  recruits,  14. 
Spooner,  H.  A.,  103,  480. 
Spottsylvania,  256. 
SPOTTSYLVANIA,  261. 
Spottswood,  Alex.,  256. 
Sprague,  Sam.,  513. 
Springfield,  7. 


i  Springfield  Republican,  46, 
48,  49,  146,  164,  174, 
342. 

Squires,  J.  C.,  38,  499. 

Squires,  J.  E.,  426. 

Stafford,  Ct.  H.,  151,  198. 

Stafford,  J.  W.,  377. 

Stall,  F..  397. 

Stanard,  W.  M.,  357,  361. 

Stanley,  E.  H.,  397. 

Stanton,  E.  M.,  60,  149. 

Stedman,  E.  C.,  89,  90. 
iStedman.  O.,  361. 

Stempel,  Adolph.  480. 

Stevens,  E.  <).,  480. 
;  Stevens,  Gen.  I.  I.,  37,  134, 

228. 

;  Stevenson,  T.  B.,  361. 
!  Stewart,  B.  A.,  246,  346. 
i  Stewart,  E.  W.,  346. 

Stewart,  H.  C.,  346. 

Stewart,  J.  V.,  346. 
1  Stewart,  Gen.  J.  W.,  266. 

Stewart,  R.  J.,  103,  499. 

Stiles,  A.  N.,  517. 
|  Stiles,  C.  H.,  513. 

Stillings,  N.,  377. 

Stockbridge,   L.,  412. 

Stone,  C.  W.,  480. 
jStoneman,   Gen.   G.   D.,    79, 

175,  176. 
jStowe,  Jas.  M.,  442. 

Stratton,  G.  F.,  104,  480. 

Stratton,  S.  W.,  458. 

Streeter,  Lorenzo,  517. 
I  Street er,  Wm.,  104,  244,  366, 

464,  465,  480. 
'<  Strickland,  G.  G.,   122,  442. 

Strong,  Geo.,  397. 
1  Strong,  Wm.  L.,  397. 

Stuart,    Gen.   J.    E.    B.,    79, 

144,  200,  227,  249. 
;  Sullivan,  Jer.,  499. 

Sullivan,  John,  499. 
i  Sullivan,  Mich.,  499. 
|Sumner,  Gen.  E.  V.,  89,  105, 
111,  150,  155,  163,  169. 

Suraner,  A.,  361. 

Surgeon's  Tent,  Bright- 
wood,  39. 

Sutler's  departure,  252. 

Sutler  raided,  151. 

Swan,  Adam,  324,  513. 

Swinton,  Wm.,  115,  157, 
193,  238,  255,  286. 


534 


THE  TENTH  MASSACHUSETTS  INFANTRY 


Sword|for  Gen.  Eustis,   246.1  Trainer,  John,  265,  514. 


Table  of  Aggregates,  519. 
Taft,  H.  L.,  458. 
Talbot,  G.  W.,  268,  426. 
Tanner,  E.  W.,  458. 
Tanner,  Wm.  N.,  499. 
Target  Shoot,  252. 
Taylor,  F.  W.,  458. 
Taylor,  J.,  144,  361. 
Taylor,  H.  V.,  480,  481. 
Taylor,  R.,  103,  397. 
Teaser  (Gunboat),  68,  75,  76, 

124. 

Templeman,  J.  W.,  264,  426. 
Tenth  and  her  Colors,  The, 

330. 

Tenth  Militia,  7,  8,  10. 
Terry,  Gen.  H.  D.,  219,  237, 

241,  243. 

Thanksgiving,  45,  152,   233. 
Thayer,  Geo.  L.,  397. 
Thayer,  Josiah,  188,  397. 
Thayer,  M.  H.,  397. 
Third  Army  Corps  Merged, 

251. 


Trask,  C.  A.,  459. 
Trask,  Eliphalet,  19,  21. 
Traver,  S.  C.,  22,    139,    367, 

366. 

Traver,  Mrs.  S.  C.,  48. 
Tree   cut   down   by   bullets, 

267. 
Trudeau,     Nap..     104,     287, 

497,  500. 

Tubbs,  J.  B.,  361. 
Tucker,  Geo.    G.,    121,    355, 

361. 

Turkey  Bend,  288. 
Turner,  A.,  361. 
Turner,  C.  R.,  426. 
Turner,  J.  W.,  188,  420. 
Turner,  Wm.  J.,  426. 
Tuttle,  Jas.,  398. 
Tyler,  D.  W.,  412. 
Tyler,  Pres.  John,  288. 


Tyrell,  Alonzo,  514. 
Ufford,  C.  D.,  431,  442. 
Ungerer,  Jos.,  231,  500. 


Three      Hundred      Fighting  Uniforms,  54. 

Regiments,  4,  9.  UPton'    Gen"    Emorv'    263 

Thompson,  C.  H.,  426.  276' 

Thompson,  C.  W.,  263,  268,|uPton'  Geo-  E-  480. 

426.  j  Utley,  H.  C.,  104,  480. 

Thompson,  G.  W.,  (E),  426.|Vaille'  v-  L-  5<>0. 
Thompson,  G.  W.,  (K),  122JVan  Horn'  Alfred,  398. 

265,  514.  |Van  Valkenburgh,  C.,  377. 

Thompson,  Col.  J.  M.,  19,  20.  Veber,  E.  E.,  104,  481. 
Thompson,  Wm.,  426.  I  Veber,  Geo.  A.,  102,  481. 

Tiffany,  Rev. ,  21.  j  Veteran  Organization,  325. 


Timothy,  Mich.,  412. 
Tinkham,  A.  H.,  426. 


Vermont  Troops,   1,   73; 
270. 


Tinkham,  Jos.  A.,  122,  514.  !  Vetter,  Jacob,  413. 


Titcomb,  Wm.  P.,  442. 
Titus,  L.  M.,  361. 
Titus,  Col.  Silas,  187. 
Tobin,  John,  500. 
Todd,  A.  E.,  459. 
Todd's  Tavern,  260. 
Tolman,  A.,  475,  480. 


Viall,  Nelson,  124. 
Viall,  Wm.  G.,  347. 
Vickery,  M.  D.,  413. 
Videtto,  Wm.  H.,  413. 
Vincent,  D.  M.,  482. 
Vincent,  M.  H.,      122, 
268,  324,  475,  482. 


252, 


"Tommy,"    Major    Parker's;  Vincent,  Wm.  T.,  482. 

Horse,    145,    269,    278.        \  Virginia  Troops,  24,  80. 
Toomey,  Edm.,  514. 
Top  rail,  204. 
Torbert,  Col.,  161. 
Tourtelotte,  J.  E.,  442. 


Tower,  C.  F.,  188,  500. 


I  Wadge,  Jos.,  515. 
IWadsworth,  Gen.  J.  S.,  181 
|  Wait,  M.  M.,  264,  459. 
iWalcott,  Jas.  M.,  500. 
Walker,  Andrew,  413. 


Tower,  H.  A.,  4,  5,  345,  346.;  Walker,  Eph.,  377. 
Towle,  J.  H.,  377.  |  Walker,  Geo.,  44,  146. 


!  Walker,  F.,  188,  377. 

Walker,  J.  H.,  268,  377. 

Walker,  J.  R.,  268,  490,  500. 

Walker,  M.  P.,  5,  26,  93,  94, 
150,  269,  296,  297,  307, 
310,  318,  319,  327,  328, 
386,  398. 

Walkley,  L.  B.,  22,  25,  125, 
177,  502. 

Walkley,  Mrs.  L.  B.,  48,  50. 

Wallace,  G.  S.,  418,  427. 

Wallace,  J.  W.,  264,  378. 

Wallace,  John,  188,  378. 

Wallace,    Thos.,  265,  515. 

Wallace,  Wm.,  362. 

Walsh,  Jas.,  188,  268,  427. 

Walsh,  Col.  "Paddy,"  185. 

Ward,  Ansel  H.,  500. 

Ward,  J.  B.,  413. 

Ward,  J.  F.,  50. 

Ward,  Capt.  J.  H.,  29. 
|  Warner,  Geo.,  362. 

Warner,  Geo.  O.,  482. 
[  Warner,  H.  A.,  398. 
|  Warner,  J.  D.,  343,  398. 
[  Warner,  Jas.  M.,  482. 
j  Warner,  John,  413. 
!  Warner,  Oliver,  44. 
j  Warren,  A.  H.,  107,  482. 
|  Warren,    Gen.    G.    K.,    237, 
238. 

WARRENTON,  216. 

Warrenton,  149,  215,  218, 
222,  223,  229. 

Warrillow,  Wm.,  268,  427. 

Warriner,  S.  C.,  5,  425,  427. 

Warwick,  C.  H.,  69,  71. 

Washburn,  Lieut.  E.,  162. 

Washington  (D.  C.),  269. 

Washington,  Lieut.,  89. 

Washington,  Gen.  Geo.,  29, 
154. 

Washington's  birthday,  54, 
171,  247. 

Washington  Farm,  176. 

Watchman  and  Reflector, 
46. 

Watery  Mt.,  222,  230. 

Watson,  T.  J.,  443. 

Wayles,  John,  128. 

Webb,  Gen.  A.  S.,  110. 

Webber,  E.  D.,  443. 

Webster,  J.  F.,  104,  449,  460. 

Welch,  Thos.,  462. 

Wells,  Judge,  17,  169. 


INDEX 


535 


Wells,  C.  C.,  39,  343. 
Wells,  D.  W.,  140,  366,  370, 

378. 

Wells,  Geo.  C.,  398. 
Wells,  Geo.  W.,  460. 
Wells,  S.  W.,  378. 
Westfield,  298. 
Westminster,  204. 
Wetherbee,  Jas.,  264,  413. 
Wetherell,    J.    H.,    22,    214, 

242,  246,  267,  268,  385. 
Wheaton,  Gen.  Frank,   151, 

160,  174. 
Wheaton's    Brigade,     241, 

243,  251,  270,  271,  290. 
Wheeler,  A.  G.,  347. 
Wheeler,  Chas.,  22,  121,  140, 

338,  402. 

Wheeler,  H.  S.,  515. 
Wheeler,  J.  W.,  413. 
Wheeler,  N.  F.,  442,  443. 
Wheeler,  Wm.,  362. 
Wheelock,  G.  A.,  460. 
Whipple,  S.  R.,  36,  459,  460. 
Whiskey  rations,  43,  62. 
White,  F.  M.,  102,  398. 
White  House  Landing,  86. 
White  Oak  Church,  164. 
WHITE  OAK  SWAMP,  115. 
White  Sulphur  Springs,  216, 

222,  227. 

Whitmore,  C.  M.,  103,  460. 
Whitmore,  G.  A.,  460. 
Whittaker,  J.  W.,  515. 
Whittemore,  C.  M.,  449. 
Whittlesey,  E.  B.,  341,  342, 

402. 

Whitney,  Geo.  A.,  443. 
Whitney,  E.  M.,  93,  103,  272, 

385,  398. 

Whitney,  John,  399. 
Wickersham,  B.  F.,  264,  443. 
Wicket,  Game  of,  252. 
Wiggins,  F.  H.  B.,  427. 


Wiggins,    H.    A.,    264,    418, 

427. 

Wilbur,  Jer.,  378. 
Wilbur,  J.  W.,  461. 
Wilcox,  D.  M.,  264,  453,  461. 
Wilcox,  E.  K.,  6,  299,  341. 
Wilcox,  H.  L.,  22,  352. 
Wilcox,  O.  W.,  240. 
Wilcox's  Landing,  289. 
WILDERNESS,  253. 
Wiley,  C.  C.,  264,  378. 
Wiley,  Frank,  399. 
Wiley,  N.  O.,  399. 
Wiley,  Silas,  378. 
Willey,  L.  F.,  500. 
Williams,  Adj.  Gen.,  85. 
Williams,  Anias,  362. 
Williams,  A.  G.,  362. 
Williams,    A.     L.,    36,    449, 

461. 

Williams,  C.  P.,  517. 
Williams,  F.,    188,  268,  461. 
Williams,  Jas.  M.,  122,  482. 
Williams,  John,  122,  517. 
Williams,  T.  F.,  36,  461. 
Williams,  P.  W.,  428. 
Williams,  S.  P.,  378. 
Williams,    S.    S.,    103,    324, 

386,  399. 
William  and   Mary   College, 

81. 
Williamsburg,  76,  77,  78,  81, 

88,  119,  129. 
Williamsport,  138,  143,  145, 

213. 

Willis,  Wm.  E.,  482,  483. 
Williston,  J.  R.,  428. 
Wilsea,  B.  M.,  399. 
Wilsey,  Buel  G.,  378. 
Wilson,  Edwin  C.,  443. 
Wilson,  G.  W.,  482. 
Wilson,  Senator  Henry,  212. 
Wilson,  J.  E.,  267,  478,  482, 
Winn,  Jos.  A.,  54,  501. 


Winslow,  S.  M.,  263,  428. 
Winter,  Wm.  F.,  291,  443. 
Winter  Quarters,  239. 
Wisconsin  Troops,  5,  70. 
Wistar,  Gen.  I.  J.,  245. 
WISTAR'S  RAID,  244. 
Witherell,  Albert,  428. 
Witherell,  David,  517. 
Wolcott,  Miss  H.,     38,     39, 

329. 

Wolcott,  Gen.  Roger,  330. 
Wolf  Run  Ford,  201. 
Wolfe,  Simons,  443. 
Wood,  Edwin  E.,  461. 
Wood,  O.  B.,  188,  478,  482. 
Wood,  Pliny,  15. 
Woodman,  H.  N.,  428. 
Woods,  R.  M.,  515. 
Woodward,  C.  J.,  22.  109, 

464. 

Woodward,  E.,  478,  483. 
Woodward,  H.,  362. 
Woodward,  M.  M.,  104,  483. 
Worth,  J.  D.,  347. 
Worthington,  J.  M.,  515. 
Worthington,    W.    R.,    265, 

501. 

Worthy,  Cyrus,  23. 
Wright,  Geo.,  A.,  461. 
Wright,  Geo.  E.,  443. 
Wright,  G.  T.,  104,  264,  461. 
Wright,  F.  C.,  399. 
Wright,  Jasper,  413. 
Wright,    Gen.    H.    G.,    213, 

223,  263. 

Wyatt,  D.  H.,  443. 
Yaw,  Wallace,  378. 
York  River,  130. 
Yorktown,  76. 
YORKTOWN,  129. 
Young,  Capt.,  188. 
Young,  John  B.,   5,   515. 
Young's  House,  75,  76. 
Zion's  Herald,  46. 


M205569 


YC  51148 


10  h- 

THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


